Even as water-starved people keep taking a shot in the dark to find a lasting solution to the perennial scarcity conditions, ‘Waterman of India’ Rajendra Singh gives an insight into the disasters triggered by excess or scarce water and a possible long-term solution. Once consulted by BJP-ruled Gujarat government, headed by then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel for insights into groundwater management, the Magsaysay Award winner delves into ages-old indigenous wisdom for sustainable water conservation. Excerpts:

What factors are responsible for this repeated drought conditions?

Scarcity and flood, both are disasters of the Indian style of development. Our development starts with displacement, which causes destruction resulting in disasters. After Independence, the first Planning Commission in 1957 considered only 232 villages as being "no-source" (meaning, having no source of water). Today, we have over 2.65 lakh villages in the country which are either “no-source” or don’t have “ safe local water” in the source. The Government of India says about 365 districts in 17 States face drought. From where did this situation arise, despite progressing so much? The issue is that the government spending on infrastructure for water management happens through contractors, who engage in corruption and don't have the sense of ownership for the cause. With our policies and misplaced development, we have a wrong practice that starts with displacement of villages and discarding of indigenous knowledge and wisdom.

What would you suggest for a sustainable solution to disasters like droughts and floods?

Droughts and floods are two sides of the coin-- disaster. If we want to protect India from droughts and floods, the answer lies in this thumb rule. “When it rains, the water flows down the drain carrying soil with it. To stop this, give it a place in the bed of the earth. Protect it from the sun, it will not evaporate and then can be useful whenever you need it. India will become water-rich again.” This is an indigenous knowledge and time-tested successful method of our water management used since ages.

We in India call it community-driven, decentralised water management method. Today 1,500 villages of nine districts in Rajasthan have gradually adopted this method and as a result, there is water in the wells. Agriculture is still possible, and rivers are alive. It is not a work of an individual or an NGO, but it is a community-driven work. People have started to reverse migrate to villages from cities and engage themselves in farming again.

There are increased instances of excess groundwater exploitation. How threatening is it from the water security point?

When you don't replenish what you have extracted from the earth, the health (of the earth) will deteriorate. The bed of the earth is the real bank of water. Ironically, our education teaches us how to extract and exploit, they don't teach the recharge mechanisms. Ultimately, we lose groundwater. The quality deteriorates and irrigation fails. This causes the biggest disaster called migration. This poses a serious threat of dangerous urban landscape.

Where do you see current system failing in managing water?

This is the government that appoints contractors and doesn't want the money to be given to the poor. I will call it a contractor-driven democracy in India. Under this system, most of the money of the projects goes to the contractor, be it for small or big projects. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Central irrigation scheme) is just a contractor-driven scheme. All the funds for watershed projects go to contractors. They distribute the money to bureaucrats and politicians and ultimately a very low amount is actually deployed for the works. This is a failed model. Earlier, Panchayats were given the money to get the work done themselves. They know the best for themselves.

What can be expected from the government?

NITI Aayog has come out with an honest report on water conservation. It says 65 per cent of the people in India do not have water for life, livelihood or dignity. The document was released by this government itself. But now they are not paying heed to it. There is no action on this report. Government action is required. But, even now, if we want to make India water-rich, we have to go back to community-driven decentralised water management. Make it contractor-free.

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