WATER MANAGEMENT IN HILLY AREA: INDIAN CONTEXT

Water is the very basis of life and is the foundation for human survival and development. Sustainable and equitable use of water over millennia has been ensured by cultural adaptation to water availability through water conservation technologies, agricultural systems and cropping patterns adapted to different climatic zones, and conservation-based life styles. But in the last few decades the consequences of population growth, industrialisation and urbanisation, and the associated consumerist culture, have interfered with the natural hydrological cycle of rainfall, soil moisture, groundwater, surface water and storage of all sizes. In all the hilly region of India, North-Eastern zone is very poor and undeveloped zone due to lack of facilities. Presently in this region source of water for drinking and irrigation is surface water (Streams and Rainwater). In absence of proper rain water harvesting structures in this region, rain water is hardly available and stream water is available only for the people living close to river banks. So they use their traditional land and water management system such as rain water harvesting, pot chlorinator for water purifying, zabo system, rice and fish culture etc. till now. Beyond these traditional technologies there are some new technologies has been developed for water conservation and filtration for drinking such as life straw, life sack and some other but due to lack of information and knowledge they are unable to use these technologies. With the help of Govt. Organization and Pvt. N.G.O.'s we can introduce and provide these cheap and latest technologies to the poor people of hilly region of India.