196 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
season. The land area of the watershed drains into a common point. Hence, the drainage
water can be easily stored in above -ground storage structures for recycling during droughts
or for growing an additional crop. Rain fed agriculture research and development has been
dominated by the concept of high yields for decades. It arose from the scientific principles
developed for the ‘green revolution’ high input, high-output technologies. Fatigue and cracks
are now developing in the green revolution areas. For rain fed agriculture, an area-based
development through watershed management provides an excellent framework for sustaining
semi-arid tropical ecologies. Also the landscape watershed units focus on the maintenance
of managed biodiversity through diversified cropping systems. It is significant to note that
a broad range of baseline information on watershed-based soil and water conservation
technologies already exists. A study commissioned by the National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management, Hyderabad, showed that if the watershed technology is to succeed
it must be specific to natural endowments of the location; it must be built on indigenous
knowledge; it should be based on people’s participation; it must be equitable in sharing of
costs and benefits, and village-based institutions must be put-in-place right from inception
of the project.
Watershed Management
It was suggested that, rather than allowing residential, commercial, or industrial
development on flood plains, these areas should be reserved for water storage, aquifer
recharge, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Sound farming and forestry practices can reduce
runoff. Retaining crop residue on fields reduces flooding, and minimizing. Ploughing and
forest cutting on steep slopes protects watersheds. Wetlands conservation preserves natural
water storage capacity and aquifer recharge zones. A river fed by marshes and wet meadows
tend to run consistently clear and steady rather than in violent floods.
A series of small dams on tributary streams can hold backwater before it becomes a
great flood. Ponds formed by these dams provide useful wildlife habitat and stock-watering
facilities. They also catch soil where it could be returned to the fields. Small dams can be
built with simple equipment and local labour; eliminating the need for massive construction
projects and huge dams. Watershed-based frame for rain fed agriculture provides uncommon
opportunities for achieving sustainable food and nutritional security. It is time that the
watershed development agenda is considered a programme for-the masses.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People
“Land for land” is a better policy than cash settlement. Even in implementing this
policy, the land is not given in the command area in most cases, forestland is either cleared
on waste fallow land given without any provision for developing the land or for the supply
of necessary inputs; a village is broken up and families dispersed; villagers are usually left
to buy private land, take loans from the government, which puts poor villagers at a
disadvantage- land prices in neighboring villages shoot up steeply if the government takes
up resettlement; the villagers are resettled in distant places, sometimes in a totally alien
environment and culture, thus creating insurmountable adjustment problems. Oustees from
Pong dam in Himachal Pradesh were settled in Anupgarh in Rajasthan, bordering on Pakistan.
The people were generally left to fend for themselves. Arrangements for drinking water,
dispensaries, schools, village roads or drainage of the rehabilitation sites are only completed
years later. In the case of the Ukai Dam in Gujarat, resettlement work was undertaken by