Rain Water Harvesting and Recharge Augmentation through Percolation Tank in Semi-arid areas- A Case Study

Abstract

The paper discusses the use of rain water harvesting as an effective tool for water management by using of different techniques. In arid and semi-arid regions the problem of water shortage is one due to low rainfall and uneven distribution throughout the season, which makes rain fed agriculture a risky. Rain water harvesting for dry-land agriculture is a traditional water management technology to ease future water scarcity in many arid and semi-arid regions. As rainfall is the main source of surface water and its conservation is essential. Hence, rainwater harvesting is one of the most promising techniques for collection of excess runoff. Augmentation of recharge to ground water through percolation tank is closely related to the survival of about 30 open and bore well water levels increased, 4.5 ha cropping area increase under the tank, 60 farmers and 120 numbers of cattle, living animal getting benefit in KVK adopted village. Here the Monsoon rains are restricted to 30 to 40 and frequency of very event is less. The efficiency of the percolation tank is hampered by the silt, which accumulates in the tank bed, year after year. It is therefore, necessary for the beneficiary farmers to remove silt from the tank bed when the tank dries in the summer season. The present study deals with the intervention to enhance the land water productivity and cropping intensity through multiple use management of the harvested rainwater. The study was focused on the conservation of rain water at farmers’ fields. This technique attributed to significant improvement in ground water levels in open and bore well depth 4.2 meters.