School for rivers : Nadi ki Pathshala

Rationale:

Maharashtra is one of prominent state in India. State is endowed with rich cultural diversity. Maharashtra is a state in the western and central peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. The centre of India is in this state. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India as well as the third-most populous country subdivision in the world.

The state is divided into 6 divisions and 36 districts, with the state capital being Mumbai. Marathi is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The Godavari and the Krishna are the two major rivers, along with the Narmada, the Tapi, the western flowing rivers and the Mahanadi river basins in the state. The forest cover in the state is 16.47% of the state's geographical area. Out of the total cultivable land in Maharashtra, about 60% is used for grain crops with Jowar (Sorghum bicolour) being the dominating crop. Spread over 307,713 km (118,809 sq. mi), it is the third-largest state by area in India.

Maharashtra with its geographical area of 30.76 M ha receives 1464.0 mm mean annual rainfall as against 1094.4 mm mean annual rainfall of India. Thus, Maharashtra receives more than mean rainfall of the country. This shows a good picture about precipitation however actual rainfall varies a lot in different geographic and agro-climatic zones.

The state is divided in 4 meteorological subdivisions named Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha. Konkan receives 2998 mm, Madhya Maharashtra 902 mm, Marathwada 844 mm and Vidarbha 1113 mm mean annual rainfall. Out of that major share Konkan and Goa (93.4%), Madhya Maharashtra (82.6%), Marathwada (85.0%) and Vidarbha (87.7%) rainfall is received in summer monsoon season (June to Sept.)

The Maharashtra state is divided into nine agro-climatic zones;

1. South Konkan Coastal Zone

2. Plain Zone

3. North Konkan Coastal Zone

4. Scarcity Zone

5. Western Ghat Zone

6. Central Maharashtra – Plateau Zone

7. Sub montane Zone

8. Central Vidarbha Zone

9. Eastern Vidarbha Zone

Maharashtra is facing a water emergency of unprecedented proportions. Following years of drought, the rivers’ currents have ebbed, water in dams and reservoirs has depleted and over-exploitation of groundwater has raised concerns over the long-term availability of water.

Vagaries of monsoon has made Maharashtra vulnerable for floods and droughts. The latest survey of the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (2019) found that of Maharashtra’s 353 talukas, 279 have experienced depletion in ground water levels. Parts of Marathwada and North Maharashtra are among the worst-hit. In 2,642 villages across the state, groundwater levels were found to be more than 3 metres lower than the five-year average — a pointer to uncontrolled extraction of water and damage to groundwater aquifers.

Nadi Ki Pataskala: This has led an insight of knowing our rivers. Concept of volunteers for rivers has been underlined. Maharashtra has legacy of volunteerism on water. Water literacy center has been established in state in 2017 in which a pool of volunteers is being created from state level to village panchayat level. So need of the community school for Rivers “NADI KI PATHSHALA” has emerged. Nadi Ki Pataskala means primary education education regarding rivers. This has been reaped and is being developed organically under able guidance of Honourable Dr. Rajendra Singh. The water man of India rather we can term him as water man of world.

I had an experience of working on water literacy in state. It was a concept of creation of volunteer to address issues regarding water which encompasses the Rivers and riverine system. Floods, drought, cropping pattern, soil quality etc. Concept of volunteerism in field of water is underlined.