Water sources are drying up due to over exploitation, deforestation, extreme extraction from rivers, unplanned urbanization etc. Natural cycles of water recharge have been disrupted, artificial measures have not been systematically and comprehensively implemented. Nature conservation is not found in both government priorities and citizen awareness.
What you should know
After the water crisis caused by the drought has affected the life of the people, the federal government has also declared the entire Madhesh province as a disaster-prone area. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday, the notice has also been published in the Gazette.
Earlier, the Madhesh government had declared all the eight districts as drought-affected areas on 26 June. The declaration of both the governments seems to understand the problems faced by the citizens. However, civilian targeted relief packages were expected after the declaration of drought or disaster prone areas.
Both governments have not been able to pay attention to that. After the declaration of Madhesh province, water supply has started to be distributed in different parts of the province. But the main concern of farmers in Madhesh is related to the uncertainty of planting or waiting for an answer to the issue of drought breaking the fields even after planting. Both the governments should come up with a package to provide relief to the citizens and prevent further crises in the future.
Leaving aside the specific problems of the specific location, there was generally no shortage of water in the Terai-Madhesh region. Monsoon could have started a couple of weeks later, but the current level of drought was not usually felt in the monsoon itself. Now the river has dried up.
Along with this, traditional sources of drinking water like wells, wells or chapakals have also dried up. The government system of water distribution has not been able to meet the demand. As a result, water has to be distributed in fire engines and tankers. In the situation of lack of drinking water, other behaviors related to water will also be affected.
Paddy planting, which has been intensive since June 15, is slow this year, especially in the Terai region. Compared to the previous year, only half of the planting has been done. Those who have planted, their fields are also broken due to lack of water. Therefore, the government at all three levels should announce relief and facilities to the citizens who are in difficulty.
In Section 32 (1) of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, if a disaster of a serious nature occurs in any place, the Government of Nepal shall publish a notice in the Gazette and declare it a disaster-prone area with specified boundaries and duration. According to this, the federal government has declared disaster-prone areas for three months and the Madhesh government has declared dry areas.
does not mean silence by announcing. It is not about taking long time for study and analysis and postponing the rest of the work. Because calamities and crises immediately seek relief and comfort. Both governments did not seem to think in that direction. It has shattered the hopes of the citizens. They are helpless.
In order to provide relief from the problems faced by the citizens of Madhesh, the government can and should announce a package from various angles. Mainly because there is a shortage of water at the moment, a systematic plan should be put in place to ensure its easy supply. If the government system can be made more organized, relief can come in some areas. Otherwise water should be distributed systematically from tankers.
Similarly, there is a shortage of water for planting and irrigation. In some places it is difficult to plant without rain from the sky. This is a problem from the past. The availability of water can increase as some canals can be cleaned. Due to lack of regular cleaning of the Gandak canal used for irrigation in Bara and Parsa, Nepal has not been able to get enough water. As a result, the irrigation of that area has been affected. If there is immediate cleaning and maintenance, relief can come to the farmers.
If rice cannot be planted, the government can also study and recommend the possibility and process of planting other crops. Farmers can also get relief if alternative crops including paddy are insured under government initiative. A financial relief package can be announced by clarifying the criteria.
The government which has brought a relief package to protect the private sector from crisis during the Covid period, it is appropriate to bring a relief package to the farmers as well. The government should be able to provide as much relief as possible when the farmers are facing crisis in the Terai region, which is known as the country's food store. If the farmers do not get relief now, the food security of the farming family, children's education and health, and economic behavior will be affected. The gross domestic product of the country may also be negatively affected. This should also be thought of early.
How long and deep this year's crisis will be, is not certain. The immediate problem can be solved by rain in a few days. But it has been years since the lack of drinking water in the Terai region began to be felt. Earlier, if only 10 feet was buried, water would come in Chapakal, but now it is common to bury more than 100 feet. But despite that, not enough water has come.
Water resources are drying up due to illegal exploitation, deforestation, extreme extraction from rivers, and unplanned urbanization. Natural cycles of water recharge have been disrupted, artificial measures have not been systematically and comprehensively implemented. Nature conservation is not found in both government priorities and citizen awareness.
There is no need to think about the use of natural resources, not exploitation. The accommodation has not been arranged. There is no policy as to where to allow systems like boring to be operated and how deep to be buried. The essence of all these illustrations is - to overcome the current crisis, a package should be announced by the government, but for a long-term solution, the creative cooperation of both the government and citizens is indispensable.
