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Halder, S.
- Study on Arsenic Mobility through Groundwater Irrigation in a Part of Chakdah Block, Nadia District, West Bengal
Authors
1 Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, IN
2 State Water Investigation Directorate, West Bengal, IN
Source
Indian Science Cruiser, Vol 30, No 2 (2016), Pagination: 9-19Abstract
Like the revolution of the earth round the sun, the God-gifted natural freshwater resource is supposed to be used by the human beings for drinking as well as irrigation purpose. This vital resource makes up 60 percent of the human body. But groundwater has been losing its potability not only due to various anthropogenic activities but also its huge development in irrigation sector. In recent-past, Arsenic (As) exposure in human beings from groundwater has been reported and millions of people have been suffering from arsenicosis both in many parts of developing and developed countries.
India is a land of agriculture including West Bengal. Agriculture is the main occupation of the villagers in West Bengal and large source of economy. However the cultivation is mostly seasonal and generally depends on grace of nature. The high As groundwater is an important issue in rural Bengal, where due to insufficient rainwater in pre-monsoon season, the local farmers are being compelled to execute by withdrawing groundwater by installing irrigation wells. Hence large-scale groundwater development for irrigation purposes has been practiced to aid in the summer crops production in West Bengal.
The present study involves the monitoring of As mobilization through irrigation groundwater in a selected area-of-interest in Chakdah block of Nadia district, West Bengal. Chemical quality parameters of groundwater have been determined through testing of collected groundwater samples during pre-monsoon season. It has been found that the As concentration of the maximum irrigation wells are relatively high exceeding the WHO's recommended safe limit (i.e. 10μg/L of As), indicating the possible chances of As migration through crops and food chain.
Surface driven fresh organic matter may have some important role in mobilizing As in groundwater. In this context, the role of iron mineralogy and anoxic environment in the shallow aquifer zone are also important factors. Therefore, groundwater irrigation beneficiary communities in this area should aware about mobility of As in groundwater for their agri-food security.
Keywords
Irrigation, Arsenic and Food Chain.
- Groundwater Hazards Risk Management In West Bengal
Authors
1 State Water Investigation Directorate, Govt. of West Bengal, IN
2 Freelance Environmental Psychologist, Kolkata, IN
Source
Indian Science Cruiser, Vol 32, No 3 (2018), Pagination: 55-63Abstract
Frequency and severity of natural hazards are increasing worldwide, in particular for hydro-meteorological extremes, posing a serious threat to the groundwater hazards in many countries and regions. Adequate fresh groundwater losses have been increasing as a result of groundwater-related hazardslike long-term depletion of groundwater level and groundwater contamination mainly due to high concentration of arsenic, fluoride, total dissolved solids etc. But it has beenexperienced that changes or variability in the climate are also responsible for the increasing losses of sufficient fresh groundwater. In particular groundwater resources are vulnerable to climate change, compounding changes in groundwater use in domestic, irrigation, industrial sector as part of its development.Groundwater conditions in some parts of West Bengal is also in vulnerable due to some hazards like groundwater crisis during frequent drought-like situation; groundwater depletion due to excessive withdrawal; and higher concentration of arsenic, fluoride and salinity in groundwater. Therefore, groundwater hazardsrisk management is the issue of groundwater security in the state of West Bengal, which must be addressed on a groundwater basin basis through a strong and properly enforced groundwater regulatory systemby modernizing the governance structure, combined with a strategic groundwater resource plan.For sustainable development, access to fresh groundwater and the protection against groundwater related hazards from quantitative and qualitative point of view are very crucial. Therefore, a productive approach to groundwater hazards risk management and adaptation strategies would reduce the risk through development of short-term action plan and long-term preventive actions e.g. a risk-based groundwater resource plan. In this paper, the review focuses on groundwater-related hazards, including impacts, current management and policies to reduce the risk, and opportunities for strengthening integrated groundwater hazards risk management in West Bengal.Keywords
Hydro-Meteorological Extremes, Groundwater Hazards Risk Management and Groundwater Security.- Women-Led Water Governance for Sustainable Irrigation in West Bengal, India
Authors
1 Department of Water Resources Investigation & Development, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
2 Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
Source
Indian Science Cruiser, Vol 27, No 2 (2013), Pagination: 11-18Abstract
Water is a finite and vulnerable resource that is essential to sustain life, development and environment. About ninety percent of available water resources are being used for irrigation purposes in many developing countries of the world. Rural women all over the world are playing an active role in irrigation, thus contributing to food security. In some agricultural areas of West Bengal, rural women community have been easily managing small-scale micro-irrigation systems like drip, sprinkler etc., which are the most cost-effective options for sustainable irrigation through increasing water use efficiency and minimize negative impacts on the environment. It is ideal in case of small-scale agricultural production with limited irrigation in drought prone and coastal saline areas in West Bengal. In Terai region of West Bengal, where groundwater table remains in shallow depth, paddle pump fitted shallow tube well (bamboo made) irrigation is quite popular and women's participation in manufacturing and installation of bamboo wells and even operation of paddle pump manually is significant. Also, numerous irrigation water sources e.g. farm ponds, hapas (small rainwater harvesting tanks), wells, springs and stretches of rivers are maintained by local village communities including rural women of West Bengal. The aim of this paper is to establish women's productive roles in managing irrigation water resources vis-a-vis a women-led water governance planning for sustainable irrigation in West Bengal.
Strong governance must be imposed so that irrigation water users associations get registered and a quota for women must be established therein to get them access of irrigation water and become involved in decision-making processes like irrigation scheduling, crop water management etc. To ensure good governance empowerment of women through participatory process of irrigation water management is essential.