Kerala’s Great Wisdom in Water Management
The world today has the same freshwater which it had a million years ago. However, today about 8 billion people share it. The total volume of water on Earth is constant. The hydrologic cycle is like a pump, cycling water through evaporation and precipitation. But there is an uneven distribution of water on Earth. At the beginning of this century, researchers were aware that global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, which is more than twice the rate of population growth (Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, 2002). The increase in water utilization levels register a rise which is more than 2.5 times the increase in population growth. The U.N. estimates that by 2050, water resources will be shared by about 3 billion more people. The trend in monsoon and annual rainfall has been declining for the past 60 years and the number of droughts increased from that in 1961-70 to 1991-2000 (Rao et al. 2009). As for Kerala, a water-rich state with over 44 rivers, above 50 lakh wells, and over 3000 small streams, the state also has the highest density of wells in the world. In Kerala, the water demand in the domestic sector has shown a higher growth rate than that of the population.
The traditional cultural habit of very high consumption of water, high literacy rate, and healthcare awareness has pushed up the demand for quality water. Transformation of the traditional joint-family system to nuclear families and the shift to urban centers with no open water harvest structures, are increasing the pressure on the public water supply system. These factors cause a faster growth rate in demand for water and today, water intensity behind crops and water footprint behind commodities become very relevant concerns. Land-use changes in favor of service and industrial sectors also reduce the water conservation level substantially, while they also cause an increase in demand. In a land-scarce state, there has been a decrease in the gross cropped area of the state and about 7 lakh hectares of paddy have been lost from 1971 to 2020. Studies have pointed out that paddy lands are the kidneys of nature and one hectare of paddy land has the capacity to store approximately 5 lakh liters of water; their environmental value as bio-reserves can never be ignored. The state presents a history of climate devastations, destruction of natural vegetation, high consumption levels, and a construction boom – ecological destruction by anthropocentric intervention. Geographical features in Kerala are undergoing rapid alterations. Thus, the forces of supply and demand are forever moving in opposite directions.
The signals of climate change, changes in landuse pattern, social attitudes and behavior, and demographic pressures indicate that the supply-demand gap may be widened in the future. Vulnerability to water stress in Kerala is influenced by a number of factors like cropping intensity and diversity, density of population, forest cover, quantum of small and marginal holdings, livestock population, net groundwater status, etc. These multiplicities of factors are also diverse and show highly variant intensities in different geographical locations in Kerala. Conservation measures and policies thereby require addressing local situations.
Water Wisdom in Management
CWRDM (Centre for Water Resources Development and Management) is a premier R & D institution in the water sector established by the Government of Kerala which aims at water security for all. Kerala became the first state to adopt a water budget on April 17, 2023, not just as a solution to water scarcity but also for comprehensive water management. Water budgets are an effective instrument to ensure sustainable development and in Kerala, it involves recording the availability of water, its consumption, surplus, and deficit in 94 gram panchayats of the state.
An excellent tool to address geographical variations in water availability, water budgeting can ensure equitable distribution of water. The state is blessed with an average rainfall of about 3000 mm, which is double the national average and equivalent to 5 times the rainfall received in Rajasthan or 3 times the rainfall received in Tamil Nadu. Hence, water management measures initiated by the government can go a long way in fostering water wisdom. Water security is the key to food security. We need the BLUE to keep the GREEN. Kerala is a state with one of the highest proportions of small and marginal holdings in the country. But even on a 5-cent plot, rainfall showers approximately 6 lakh liters of water. Harvesting even a portion of it can make a family comfortable during summers. There are around 65 lakh wells in Kerala and rooftop harvesting can be resorted to recharge the wells. The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority had initiated a ‘water literacy’ campaign with the involvement of students, aiming to create awareness about the importance of water conservation. The water literacy campaign of the government enlightens people and makes them aware that today’s wastage is tomorrow’s shortage. It also explains how a free bounty of nature has transformed into an economic good with a price tag. Conservation of resources like water is a state of harmony between men and land, and it is foolish to believe that someone else will save it. As Dr. M.S Swaminathan says, if conservation of natural resources goes wrong, nothing else will go right.