GUWAHATI, Sept 30 - As climate change has become a major cause of concern for the entire world, a report of the Government of Assam has warned that it would have a serious impact on the water resources sector and the scarcity of fresh water is likely to increase as the State is already facing shortage of fresh water during the dry season.The predicted increase in average temperature and decrease in the number of rainy days due to climate change will further hit water resources. The problem is compounded by high levels of groundwater extraction, which is expected to continue given Assam’s growing population and reliance on agriculture. Assam’s water resource policies are distributive rather than proactive and there is still a dearth of programmes promoting water harvesting and water conservation or storage, the report said.
The report pointed out that forests can improve groundwater recharge, reduce soil erosion and runoff, regulate flooding and temperature of a place. Assam’s forests and trees outside forest areas together cover 37.29 per cent of the State’s geographical area. Dependence on fuel wood, mining, logging, urbanisation, encroachment, higher frequency jhum cultivation etc., are some of the developmental factors leading to degradation of forests. As floods and droughts are likely to intensify, it is very likely that a further reduction in forest cover may occur in these areas and may amplify the impacts on agriculture, water resources and composition of the remaining forestland.
Effects of climate change will be felt mostly by the poor.
Poverty is a major challenge for Assam as the poverty rate is 36 per cent, higher than the national average of 27 per cent. It is also one of the highest in the North East. Apart from economic growth, availability and access to public health services has been a challenge.
The report pointed out that the main aim of the National Water Mission is minimising wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within states through integrated water resource development and management.
The identified goals of the mission are, developing a comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of impact of climate change on water resource, promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation, focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas, increasing water use efficiency by 20 percent, and promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.
About 8,251 sq km – which is 10.5 per cent of the total geographical area of the State – is occupied by surface water bodies. Of this about 6,503 sq km is occupied by the river systems including the mighty Brahmaputra and 1,748 sq km by natural wetlands including seasonal and permanent waterlogged and marshy areas and man-made areas.
The Brahmaputra is the sixth largest river in the world. It is amongst the most flood-prone rivers, and with its 41 major and 121 minor tributaries that flow to Assam, it represents a most complex river system. Another major river in Assam, the Barak originates in the Japvo mountain in Manipur at an altitude of 3,015 m and flows south through mountainous terrain up to Tipaimukh near the tri-junction of the three states – Assam, Manipur and Mizoram. Here, the river takes a hairpin bend and plunges into the plains of Cachar district of Assam and forms the border of Assam and Manipur up to Jirimat, which is the upstream of Lakhipur. The river then flows through the Barak Valley of Assam. From the source to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Barak covers a distance of 564 km. In Assam, the Barak river basin covers an area of 7,224 sq km.
The State government report revealed that groundwater is available at low to moderate depths almost in the entire State. Although there is seasonal and regional variation in the availability of water resources, the annual availability of water remains almost the same. The ratio of gross irrigated area to gross cropped area has declined over the years and secondary crops are no longer irrigated due to lack of adequate facilities.
