Recharge ponds being constructed in Chure area

By Bijay Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, Feb. 9: Artificial water recharge ponds are being constructed in the Chure area in Madhes province. Organisations working on environmental protection for underground irrigation have joined hands to construct artificial ponds.

President Chure Terai Madhes Conservation Committee Unit Office Janakpur Chief Shiva Kumar Pokharel said that since the impact of climate change has started to be seen on the water, water recharge ponds are being constructed in the Chure area to prevent extreme water shortage in Terai districts in the future.

He informed that the construction of ponds will replenish underground water source as well as provide water for wild animals and control wildfires.

Although the climate change is profoundly affecting the weather system, agriculture, energy and people's livelihood, one of the gravest impacts is seen on underground water. As the underground water level is receding, the old wells have started to dry up, Pokharel said. 

The Janakpur unit office has set a target of constructing 19 ponds in some of the districts of the Chure area, including Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat and Sindhuli, in the current fiscal year. Seven of them are under construction and the remaining 12 are in the works. 

Sanjay Kumar Sah, president of Community Improvement Center Dhanusha, said that water recharge ponds collect water from the runoff area and rainwater in certain areas and recharge the underground sources. He said that this will help water supply in the lower coastal areas.

Decreasing water level puts the population and aquatic life dependent on the water source under threat. Time has come to be aware of this. Now, all the people should make arrangement to pave a way for rainwater to infiltrate into underground so that ground is kept recharged. 

Sah said that due to unplanned urbanisation and deforestation, the land is not able to absorb enough rainwater.

Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal President Nagdev Yadav said that if the water shortage is not addressed now, it may cause serious problems in the future. He said that as the use of water for households and agriculture is bound to increase as population increases, the government should pay serious attention to this burning issue.