Public efforts, systemic intervention needed to raise groundwater levels

CHENNAI: While the concern over low groundwater levels despite intense rainfall is an ongoing woe of the public, experts say certain interventions by the public can improve the situation. The public can assist in improving the groundwater level by utilising the rainwater efficiently considering climate change, urbanisation, pollution and other factors.

“People should learn to live with ‘excess’ water as the climate change-induced extreme events do occur all over the world. Since the hydrological cycle is disrupted There is a disruption in the hydrological cycle which causes changes in the rainfall pattern,” said Dr Janakarajan, former professor of Madras Institute of Development Studies and president SaciWaters.

Urbanisation is happening at a rapid pace and the housing areas are increasingly paved with concrete resulting in a huge reduction in the previous surface. “Every house should take earnest effort to harvest rainwater and make sure that rainwater that falls on one’s rooftop does not flow into the streets. The rainwater should either be tapped/saved in a sump or should be used to recharge groundwater. The seasoned hydrologist also urged that the usage of plastic should be reduced so that the stormwater drains are not clogged. The Chennai corporation is taking several steps to curb the usage of plastic and the public should come forward in reducing the plastic usage and make sure that they are not thrown out,” said Janakarajan.

Earlier this week, state Minister for Environment and Climate Change Siva V Meiyanathan inspected the operations of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and insisted that the environment department focused on opening new public sewage treatment plants effectively so that the water bodies are protected from pollution, but practically the arrest of sewage into water bodies are not taken seriously, said K Brinda, conservationist, Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Tiruchy.

“We should take appropriate measures to address the areas contaminated by chromium waste like in Vellore. Similarly effluent discharge from industries in Tiruppur, Erode and Karur,” Brinda added.

Despite the heavy rains in the monsoons in recent years and the city being prone to flooding, weather blogger for Chennai Rains K Srikanth said that unclean water bodies add to the problem as the pollution such as plastics and other waste affects percolation. “We have to first keep the water bodies cleaner to ensure that groundwater recharges itself. All types of water bodies including rivers, lakes, streams and others, should be maintained as fit for drinking. When these water bodies are clean, naturally the waste will be removed and percolation improve.

He said urbanisation has disturbed the water pathways. “The pathways where water could flow are now occupied and that waterway is disturbed. We are seeing intense rains but groundwater levels are poor. It is because the monsoon patterns are changing and spells are heavier but the duration of the monsoon is shorter. The agricultural patterns and urban planning should be done keeping these in mind,” he said.

The public can assist in improving the groundwater level by utilising the rainwater efficiently considering climate change, urbanisation, pollution, etc