Accepted Papers - 3.pdf - UNESCO

In coastal areas of Gujarat, the villages located
within 15-20 kms. from the seacoast are suffering
severely from the problem of salinity ingress. In
Kodinar taluka of Junagadh district (the area under
reference), most of the rivulets like Goma, Somat,
Sangavadi etc. are seasonal in nature and the water
in these rivulets do not last beyond winters. Other
water bodies like ponds that get water from these
rivers also dries up by the month of October-
November. As a result, over the years the problem
of water shortage in the region has worsened.
Participatory Rural Appraisals carried out
confirm that the problem of salinity ingress actually
started in the late seventies, basically due to the
following reasons:
� Over-exploitation of ground water to meet the
increasing needs of the growing population.
� Breaking up of joint family system into nuclear
families has resulted in fragmentation of land, which
lead to rampant increase of wells and extensive use
of diesel and electrical pumps.
� Cultivation of high water intensive crops like
sugarcane, banana, betel nut, coconut etc. has
resulted in lowering of water table and ingress of
saline water into the groundwater.
� Inefficient use and wastage of water by
farmers.
� Mismanagement of ground water due to overirrigation
and water loss through high run-off.
� Recurrent and worst droughts over the last few
years in the region have further worsened situation
in aquifers.
This phenomenon is having long-term
implications for both households and agriculture on
which about 60% people are depended for their
livelihoods. This has also meant an increased
dependence on outside agencies like the state and
other civil society organizations for basic needs such
as drinking water and food. Since 1980s, conflicts
have arisen over access to limited fresh water
resources available in this region.
With the objectives of contributing for the
cause of Rain Water Harvesting in the region and
provide the much needed succor to the society
surround the mines and plants, Gujarat Ambuja
Cements Limited, started formulating and
implementing the Rain Water Harvesting Schemes
through its community development wing Ambuja
415
Cement Foundation (NGO) since the year 1996.
Having realized the success and positive social
impact of the above ongoing measures, the company
simultaneously formulated innovative schemes to
utilize the exhausted mining pits to store rain water
for the large scale benefits to the community and
farmers surround the plant and mining areas.
A. Water Harvesting in mined out pits by Gujarat
Ambuja Cements Ltd :
The company operates captive mechanized
opencast mines to meet the prime raw material
(Limestone and Marl) requirements for cement
making from the areas adjoining the plants.
Subsequent to the mining, wide pits, ranging in
depth from 12-15 meters are created. These pits are
to be put back in some useful land use form i.e.
reclamation. The generally adopted practices are
back filling the mined out area, afforestation,
development of pastureland, creation of water
bodies etc. The company has also implemented these
techniques for various areas in suitable area.
However, considering the location of the mines in
coastal region, the importance of fresh water and
rainwater harvesting, more emphasis has been
accorded to converting the mined out pits into
artificial lakes and reservoirs by diverting the
surface run off. Over the years, these efforts have
translated in successful harvesting of rainwater. As
a matter of fact the quantum of water harvested each
year in the mined out pits has been on the rise on a
perennial basis. These efforts have been briefly
described here, added with suitable schematic/
photographic illustration, wherever possible.
01. Diversion of the plant run off:
Some of the mined out pits were located in
close vicinity of the two plants of GACL. Taking
advantage of the same, it was planned to divert the
plant surface run-off, which was hitherto going
waste, to one of such pit, way back in the year 1995.
To enable the flow of water from plants, a 1000-m.
long trench of 4 m width was excavated and
connected to the pit. Apart from this, to increase to
quantum of water collected, one of the nearby small
nallah and the village run-off drain was also
modified and connected to the pit. The schematic
plan given below indicates the location and the
arrangement of the above.