PI SCI FOUNDATION

Cities world over are facing drinking water problem. The planners are often over emphasizing on sourcing surface water from far off places. This will involve exorbitant cost and many a times diversion of river flow beyond the permissible limit. Obviously such river flow diversions will have adverse ecological consequences. In this context, the article reinvents traditional knowledge with sound scientific rigour. It argues for ecologically sustainable local solutions for meeting drinking water need of cities from flood plain of rivers. A case of river Yamuna in Delhi has been discussed to highlight the potential of flood plain aquifer as a drinking water source

Over 70% of all water sources are now polluted. The article points out how unknown yet unpolluted water sources, such as river floodplains for bulk water and local forests for perennial, healthful natural mineral water can provide for towns and cities - almost for free.

In the article, the authors look at how river floodplains are excellent aquifers and can be used as a local, non-polluting, perennial and non-invasive source of water whilst providing farmers with an assured income.

We propose a scheme for the natural storage of monsoon water recharge in the extensive and deep sand layer of the floodplain of the river. A non-invasive scheme for natural recharge and use of the Yamuna floodplains .

The Palla floodplains project is shown to be capable of increasing supply of water to Delhi as well as a potential store for emergency storage.

Professor Vikram Soni speaks to Firstpost on a wide range of issues relating to water scarcity, including the need for forests, legislation against desturction and the components of the Palla Water Project.

Floodplains can be a non-invasive source of water for millions of people. Nearly every city that has a river can take advanateg of this system. It requires that there be in place strong legislation to ensure they are not damaged for purposes such as sand mining.

The floodplains of the Yamuna or indeed any river are an invaluable source for water extraction and recharge. The condition is that we must maintain our usage within ecological limits. The article also shows how conserved flood plains could supply many millions of people with water and how much better natural ecosystems are to human engineering in this regard.

Having carried alluvium soil over the course of millions of years, the floodplains of rivers have become giant reservoirs of water, stored underground. The floodplains by virtue of their size, are capable of quick recharge. Only 2% of the floodplain water should be utilized to stay within ecological limits. Highlights a chess-board plan for a city.

The Palla project on the floodplains of the Yamuna represents the last remaining poolution free water sources in India. On a visit to the site with Delhi officials, Professor Soni said that the appropriate management of this resource could easily be replicated and provide water to about 300 cities in India.

The floodplains are a remarkable source of pollution free water. This article quantifies how the floodplain could be utilized successfully for a host of riverside cities.

The Delhi Jal Board decided to launch the Palla project flood plain water harvesting project to provide extra water to the city.

Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Professor Vikram Soni discusses the dangers of sand mining to local ecology as well as the importance of the floodplains. He also touches upon the dangers of viewing desalination as a reliable fix for water scarcity issues.

In this election parties set out plans to develop India. India needs development, it needs economic growth. But what sort of development what sort of growth, and at what cost?