Volume : III, Issue : VII, July - 2013

Panchayati Raj: A Way Out of Drinking Water Crisis in Rural India

Suchismita Das, Parag Shil

Abstract :

Freshwater water resources all over India are becoming scarce. Safe and clean drinking water is a fundamental right yet in many parts of rural India, water has become scanty resource. People often pay for clean unpolluted water. The situation is more aggravated by a new found field of activity of tapping groundwater by means of bore wells that has been allowed to grow unchecked, receding the ground water level. At many parts of the country, the lowest depth for water is 175 feet and highest is 750 feet, which is an alarming phenomenon. Realizing the gravity of drinking water scarcity and pollution, several steps are being tried out but the most powerful of all is probably working at grass roots by ensuring peoples participation by local Panchayat. Through Panchayat, farmers should be encouraged to adopt drip and sprinkler irrigation practice, prohibit use of groundwater for agriculture and use traditional water storage systems like rainwater harvesting. With common people’s involvement, man–made drought and the looming water crisis can be overcome.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

Suchismita Das, Parag Shil Panchayati Raj: A Way Out of Drinking Water Crisis in Rural India Indian Journal of Applied Research, Vol.III, Issue.VII July 2013

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