Experts call for protection of recharge zones
MUSSOORIE: The changing climatic conditions combined with population rise, tourism pressure and unplanned developmental activities have led to added pressure on the availability of potable water to the hill town of Mussoorie for which experts say the answer lies in geo-hydrological mapping, protection of recharge zones and rainwater harvesting,
Experts from the Centre for Ecology, Development and Research (CEDAR), Dehradun, who conducted a study in Mussoorie, say several mismanagement issues are primarily responsible for the growing water crisis in Mussoorie and until sustainable solutions are not found, the situation will get worse in years to come.
“Mussoorie by virtue of its biophysical setting generates a substantial amount of spring water and the availability from these natural sources is just enough to cater to the demands of the residents in the lean period; therefore the need to protect the recharge zones, hydrological mapping of catchment areas, and extensive rainwater harvesting are the measures needed for a sustainable solution to the water crisis in the hill town of Mussoorie,” said Vishal Singh, director of CEDAR which conducted a study on the potable water availability and challenges for
Mussoorie.
LC Ramola, executive engineer with Jal Sansthan Mussoorie, said, “The demand for potable water, especially in peak tourist seasons, is 14.4 million litres a day (MLD) which outstrips the supply which is currently 7.67 MLD.”
The total number of water sources (springs and brooklets) is around 20 out of which 6 are gravity fed and 14 require pumping that supply water for 2 hours in the morning and evening through 8 pumping stations; 36 pumping plants are installed around the town. But the situation worsens in case of any breakdown in power supply or damage to the pumps, said experts.
The population of Mussoorie rose from only 6,461 in 1901 to 30,118 in 2011, as per the census. The increase in population density, which is estimated to rise even further up to 2,000 people per sq km, has led to further constructions, raising the water requirement.
Around 29 reservoirs (concrete water tanks, overhead storage tanks, steel tanks) with the total storage capacity of 4,600 kilolitres are used to supply water to all the municipal wards along with the Landour cantonment area, said a civic body official. Out of these 5 storage reservoirs of around 24,500 kilolitre are designated as balancing reservoirs, which supply water during an emergency, he added.
The residents of the Lakshman Puri area, of which one section falls under the jurisdiction of Jal Sansthan and others under Landour cantonment board, face problems due to the erratic water supply that worsens in summers. They are looking for a permanent solution to the water crisis.
“Water distribution is in the hands of Jal Sansthan that supplies water to the storage tanks on the ITM premises from where the water is distributed to the households on a regular basis,” said Abhishek Rathore, CEO of Landour Cantonment board. “To upgrade the drinking water distribution system, we have demanded ₹6 crore from the government of India and have directed the Peyjal Nigam to prepare the DPR for the same.”
LC Ramola said, “We fill the storage tanks on ITM premises in the cantonment area and thereafter the water is distributed to the consumers by the cantonment board.”
The residents and officials of the town are pinning their hopes on the ambitious project of drawing water from the Yamuna river 18 kilometres away.
The project is being implemented in the town at an estimated cost of ₹144 crore to meet the current shortfall and is being designed to draw 21 MLD water considering the future needs up to 2050. But the project, officials said, is dependent on the availability of water from the river.
Vishal Singh said, “Records from Almora provide evidence that the city previously depended on springs (more than 300) but now lifts water from the Kosi river, forcing the government to increase the capacity of pumps. Even this intervention has not helped and water crisis resurfaces with the drying of the river in summers.”
The insensitivity of the development authorities is also one of the reasons for the damage to the recharge zones in the area, say experts.
“Construction of roads above in the recharge zone or the water catchment area, which is a major natural source for supplying drinking water to Mussoorie, would have a detrimental effect on the aquifers” said Avnita Pandey, the coordinator of the Mussoorie potable water study project done by CEDAR.
“The natural sources remain important to the town but with most of the springs lying in the forested areas under private forest estates, the pressure from this lobby to allow them land conversion rights to be used for construction purposes is high. This could have an adverse impact on the ecosystem resulting in changing the hydrological cycles, moisture regime and depletion of critical water zones that fall in more than 200 private estates around the town,” she said.
Shipra Sharma, forest range officer of Mussoorie wildlife sanctuary, popularly known as Benog mountain quail sanctuary, said, “The Benog beat under the sanctuary is the origin for the four to five springs including the Kempty fall, the major tourist destination. The increase in water level due to the protection provided to the catchment area by the sanctuary has helped in recharging the springs, which have more water than in past.”
Geo-hydrological mapping and protection to forest areas will help the department in assessing the water levels, she added.
Rainwater harvesting is another way to augment the water supply. The Union government, under the National Water Mission’s campaign with the tagline “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls”, is urging the states and stakeholders to create appropriate rainwater harvesting structures (RWHS) suitable to the climatic conditions and subsoil strata before monsoon.
Bimol Sharma, senior consultant with Municipal Garden in Mussoorie, said,” We at Municipal Garden are collecting water and recycling it to be used for running the waterfall and the water is then used for the flowers in the garden.”
The Centre has also told states to open “rain centres” manned by well-trained engineers in each district collectorate/municipality or GP offices. These centres would provide technical guidance as to how to catch the rain, but nothing has been done so far, said experts.
Naresh Durgapal, sub-divisional magistrate, Mussoorie, said, “The rainwater harvesting system has been made compulsory by the government for all the buildings and institutes and the Mussoorie Dehradun Development authority has also been directed to include it in the plan sanctioning process for any house construction.”
However, apart from a few schools and hotels, not many have shown keenness to adopt this system.
Mussoorie-based environmental expert Vipin Kumar said, “The Municipal Board should take the lead in the town by opening the rain centre and introducing rainwater harvesting on its premises, so that it becomes an example for others to follow suit. There should be an extensive policy for watershed management to save the springs that have been providing water to the town since the British era. The catchment areas should be free of any mud or solid waste. It should be ensured that the surface water is not polluted by any means either by grey water or black water emanating from the sewage system.”
Experts say the practice of using water bottles should be replaced by installing water ATM in the town; adaptive water governance with metering system should be introduced; springs should be safeguarded by constituting a highpowered committee; and ‘rain centres’ could be run under the guidance of Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy, the institution for IAS trainees in Mussoorie, or local administration.