Changing Monsoon Pattern and its Impact on Water Resources in Himalaya:

Responses & Adaptation

Prakash C. Tiwari Professor of Geography

Kumaon University Nainital – 263 002, Uttarakhand, India

Email:pctiwari@yahoo.com

Roorkee

Haridwar

Dehradun

Tanakpur

Mussorrie

Nainital Mukteswer

Ranikhet

Pithoragarh

Ukhimath

Uttarakashi Srinagar

Tehri

Joshimath

Munsyari

Nagling

FOCUS

  Rainfall Varaibility Analysis   Impact on Water Resources   Impact on Food & Livelihood   Community Response   Adaptation Strategy

METHODOLOGY

  Rainfall Data   Hydrological Monitoring   Land Use Dynamics Interpretation   Community Response   Adaptive Water Management

Rainy Days & Average Annual Rainfall & Groundwater Recharge

Rai

ny D

ays

Rai

nfal

l (cm

)

Groundwater Recharge Percent of Total Rainfall

Altitudinal Range

(in Metres)

Total area (km2)

Stream Length

Becomig Seasonal (km/year)

Disaappearence of

First Order

Headwater Perennial Streams

Stream-length dried (in m)

Below 1500 m 44.23 4.7 17 311

1500 -- 1800 29.18 5.9 11 227

1800 -- 2200 23.37 5.0 21 114

Above 2200 11.16 7.5 05 84

Total/Average 107.94 5.8 10.80 736

Average Annual Discharge of Major Rivers (2001 – 2010)

Dis

char

ge in

m3 /S

econ

d

Status Rivers & Streams

Years

Natural Springs

1980 2010

No. % No. %

Perennial 116 100 56 48

Seasonal 0 0 32 28

Dried 0 0 28 24

Total 116 100.00 116 100

Status of Natural Springs

Parameters Status Rate of Glacier Retreat 10-15 m/Year Rainy Days Declined 35% Amount of Rainfall Decreased 21% Natural Spring Dried 47% Natural Springs Become Seasonal 15% Stream Length Dried 0.79% Stream Flow Declined 27% Capacity of Lakes Decreased 8650 cu.m Loss of Irrigation Potential 18% Village Facing Severe Water Crisis 67% Decline in Agricultural Productivity 25% Food Deficit Level 75% Decline in Agro-based Livelihood 24% Traditional Water Mills (Flour Mills) Abandoned 91% Water Fetching Distances above 2 km 39% Villages Population Affected by Water Borne Diseases 55%

Status of Water Resources and Their Impacts on Food & Livelihood Security

Decline in Biomass Supply, Irrigation Potential & Agricultural Productivity D

ecre

ase

in P

erce

nt

Below 1500 m 1500-1800 m 1800-2200 m Above 2200 m Average

Irrigation Potentials Agricultural Production Biomass Supply

•  Replenishing Water Resources: 27% Villages

•  Cultivation of Less Water Requiring & Drought Resistance Crops: 19% Families

•  Local Community Based Water Conservation Practices: 25% Villages

•  Cropping Pattern Altered & Crop Rotation Adjustment: 21% Villages

•  Abandonment of Cultivated Land: 11% Households

•  Agricultural Relocation: 27% Households

•  Switched over to Secondary & Tertiary Sectors Activities: 07% Households

•  Out-migration: 05% Families

•  Decreased Consumption of Less Productive Crops: 11% Families

Community Responses & Coping Practices

•  Decline in Stream & Stream Water: 30% •  Decline in Drinking Water Supply: 35% •  Loss of Irrigation: 25% •  Decrease in Hydropower: 20% •  Decline in Agricultural Productivity: 30% •  Loss of Gross Domestic Product: 9-13%

Expected Scenario for 2050

500 m

5000 m

1000 m

2000 m

3000 m

4000 m

50 – 100 km Approximate Radial Distance

Sub-Tropical Zone, Deciduous Forests, High Population Density

Intensive Cultivation

Lower Temperate Zone, Mixed Forests, Water

Scarcity, High Population Density, Intensive Cultivation

Mid Temperate Slopes, Mixed Himalayan Forests, Acute Water

Scarcity, High Population Density Extensive Cultivation, Horticulture,

Vegetable Farming

Sub-Alpine Mountains, Sparse Population,

Extensive Cultivation, Livestock Grazing

Alpine Zone

Intensive Grazing

Natural Environment, Land Use and Resource Utilization Pattern Along The Himalayan Transact in Uttarakhand

Alpine Zone

Intensive Grazing

Sub-Alpine Mountains, Sparse Population,

Extensive Cultivation, Livestock Grazing

Mid Temperate Slopes, Mixed Himalayan Forests, Acute Water

Scarcity, High Population Density Extensive Cultivation, Horticulture,

Vegetable Farming

Lower Temperate Zone, Mixed Forests, Water

Scarcity, High Population Density, Intensive

Cultivation

Sub-Tropical Zone, Deciduous Forests, High Population Density

Intensive Cultivation

River

Reserved Forest

Reserved Forest

Fig. 5

Fodder & Tea Farming Horticulture & Fodder Fuel wood, Fodder & Soil Conservation Fuel wood, Fodder & Water Conservation Fuel wood, Fodder & Medicinal Plants Fuel wood, Tea Farming & Soil Conservation Fuel wood, Tea Farming & Water Conservation Fuel wood, Tea Farming & Medicinal Plants Fuel wood, Water Conservation & Horticulture Fuel wood, Horticulture & Tea Farming Soil Conservation & Medicinal Plants Tea Framing & Soil Conservation Tea Farming & Medicinal Plants Water Conservation & Medicinal Plants No Common Pool Wasteland

KOSI HEADWATER

INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

LOD GAD HEADWATER INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

N

LEGEND: Reserved Forest

Cultivated Land

Horticulture & Tea Farming

Vegetable Farming

Water Conservation Sites

Community Forests

SAIL AND BUNGA

KOSI HEADWATER VILLAGE KWERALI

PARTICIPATORY WATER & NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

N

500 m 0 500 m

LEGEND:

Fig. 3

Spring Sanctuaries Forests & Fodder Development Forests & Energy Development Horticulture & Tea Farming Agriculture Catchment Treatment, Check Dams, Ponds

Thank You