Dr. S. Kalyanaraman,
Indus Sarasvati Research Centre,
20, Warren Road, No. 7,
Mylapore, Madras 600004
Tel. 044-4935871; 4936288; 2354640; Fax. 4996380
email:mdsaaa48@giasmd01.VSNL.net.in



To
Mr. S. Chakrabarti,
Deputy Director (PP),
Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India,
Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi

4 September 1996

Ref. Ministry of Water Resources letter No. 31/37/96-PP dated 7 August 1996

Subject: Sarasvati River Project: Research scheme

Dear Mr. Chakrabarti,

At the outset, kindly accept my sincere thanks for your  prompt and kind response to my earlier letter of 21 May 1996 addressed to the Prime Minister of India on the Research Scheme on Sarasvati River Project.

As requested in your letter of 7 August 1996, I am attaching a detailed proposal indicating the following:

(i)  Objectives of the scheme
(ii)  methodology to be followed
(iii)  duration
(iv)  estimated costs

I will be happy to provide any further information that may be required to enable the Ministry to take further action in the matter.

Thanking you and with the very best regards,

Yours faithfully,


Dr. S. Kalyanaraman

SARASVATI RIVER PROJECT: RESEARCH SCHEME

(Prepared by Indus Sarasvati Research Centre, 20 Warren Road No. 7, Mylapore, Madras 600004)

Objectives of the Research Scheme

The objectives of the project are to revive the sacred Sarasvati River in north-western India as a perennial river to augment the water resources of the country in that region and to promote integrated rural development of the region. 

To achieve this objective, a Research Scheme has been proposed to conduct further detailed studies and prepare comprehensive project feasibility reports. This Research Scheme is being undertaken by the Indus Sarasvati Research Centre (a non-profit organization).

To augment the water resources, particularly the ground water resources and to improve the water quality in general.

Area proposed for the Study

The project area is bounded by the Yamuna river on the east, Sutlej river on the north, the border with Pakistan on the west and the Aravalli ranges and the Luni river on the south. 

The project area covers approx. 3 lakh sq. km. and a population of approx. 3.4 crores

The area is endowed with abundant sunshine and has a low population density (resulting in the possibility of establishing large, econimic and sustainable farms). 

Rainfall in the area is very low (ranging from 100 to 500 mm. Per annum). 

The philosophy of the project concept

The philosophy of the project concept is governed by three basic principles:

* Ground water storage augmentation
* Peoples' participation on an equal basis
* Preservation of the archaeological sites and cultural heritage as evidenced by the archaeological sites

Potential evapo- transpiration is very high in this region (which may go upto 7 to 11 mm. per day).. This means that augmenting ground water is a preferable, economic solution compared to the option of surface storage of water. Nevertheless, with a sustained management of surface and ground water for efficient agricultural development, it is expected that the ancient lakes of Sarasvati will gradually emerge.

The underlying design criterion is to increase the water supply in the region by augmenting the ground water storage and not by creating new surface reservoirs. This is a cost-effective, technically feasible solution in this area of deep soil (and unconsolidated material) where the bed-rock is encountered at a great depth and many old, shallow river channels.  

Structures and procedures for a Peoples' participatory  approach to the planning and implementation of the project (as distinct from joint-venture approach) will be central to the project. Such participation should be on an equal basis at ALL stages from: problem awareness, evaluation of alternative solutions, project formulation, detailed planning, and implementation. Though such an approach is likely to be time-consuming and difficult, such an approach should be used for a sustainable and replicable method of development.

In evolving the project concept, based on this Peoples' participatory approach, grass-root level NGOs, Schools, Universities in the Project area and local banks, financial institutions and industries in the area; will be closely involved. 

The development of the project will be in harmony with the need to preserve the ancient archaeological sites and under no circumstances will any project activity be undertaken that could destroy for all time
the valuable information-repository of these sites.

Methodology

The folowing organizations will also be net-worked for assistance and guidance:
* national research institutes (such as CAZRI, ICRISAT, CERSARD, Salt Research Institute, and institutes concerned with Aquaculture);
* governmental agencies at Central, State and Local levels (such as Ministries concerned with Water Resources, Agriculture,  Livestock,  Forestry, Environment, Roads, Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, National/regional remote sensing agencies)
 
The participatory approach will be the underpinning for the Project in all aspects including the following design criteria:

* To develop an integrated and a sustainable system of agriculture (for both irrigated and rain-fed areas)
* To conduct environmental impact analyses to ensure the sustainainability of the ecosystem 
* To introduce high-value perennial (fruit and nut) crops (such as almond, pistachio, dates and olives)
* To protect the soil and improve water infiltration into the soil
* To encourage the use of soil-reclaiming crops (such as Salicornia and Acacia) as necessary in salt and alkali-affected areas and for improving the soil-nitrogen content in general respectively
* To evolve a live-stock production system which incorporates controlled grazing with fences or paddock system and including stall-feeding of high-value fodder including irrigated (such as Salicornia-based animal feeds, alfalfa) 
* To evolve an integrated use of water incorporating rain-fed farming with the conjunctive use of ground water
* To evolve a self-regulatory practice to maintain (and where necessary, to improve) the quality and quantity of ground water by developing norms to prevent over-drawing of ground water
* To develop a drainage plan to reclaim the salt and alkali-affected areas and even more importantly, for the other areas to prevent the development of saline and alkali problems
* To ensure that provisions are made for improvement of adult literacy, participation of women in development, improvements in health, nutrition and sanitation facilities among the population served by the project
* To promote the establishment of rural industries (such as agro-processing, leather processing, mat-making, stone polishing, spinning, weaving and textiles) and other home-based industries to supplement the farm income





Activities and Equipment required

For the project to be undertaken, the people may have many questions to be answered. The Indus Sarasvati Research Centre should be able to provide reliable answers or solutions. For this to be achieved, the Centre should embark on a program of pre-project studies which will require the following:

a) Satellite imagery
b) Aerial photograhs
c) Topography maps at scale 1: 250,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000  where available
d) Reports (published and unpublished) on soils, climate, topography, geology, hydrology, vegetation, agriculture, livestock, flora and fauna and socio-cultural-anthropology institutions of the areas in this region
e) Simple test-kits to determine the quality of soil and surface- and ground-water
f) Field observations on ground water level on a continuous basis at a pre-determined number of selected sites to be located on the basis of physiographic parameters (which will be determined from a preliminary study of items (a) to (d) and involvement of local institutions for conducting these observations
g) Joint field trips with interested persons from CAZRI, Universities and Collges in the States concerned, GSI, SI, and the Ministries mentioned earlier. These trips are intended to make a preliminary, technical assessment of the complexity and feasibility of the proposed developmental changes
h) Preparation of a Project Proposal dividing the area into homogeneous agro-climatic sub-zones and enumerating the project developmental activities proposed for each of these zones
i) Conduct seminars, discussion groups and participatory meetings
j) Disseminate information reports through the various media (newspapers, magazines, radio, television and video cassettes)

Materials required:

Cartographic materials (overlays, drawing equipment, drawing paper, blue prints, tracing paper)
Mirror Stereoscopes (2) and Pocket stereoscopes (4)
Scanner and Plotter (attachment to Computer)


Work to be done (at the pre-planning stage)

Preparation of tentative thematic maps based on items (a) to (d) and selected field trips to gather ground-truth; the maps will show the following themes:

a) climate map (rainfall  annual and by season, temperature)
b) demographic maps
c) topography maps [hills, ridges, rivers, meander scars, ox-bow lakes, dry channels, old levee bands, different kinds of sand dunes]
d) cultural heritage map (old archaeological sites, historical monuments)
e) soil quality map (well-drained, poorly-drained, saline, alkaline, arable/non-arable)
f) land-use/land-cover maps (vegetation, crops, livestock)
g) water quality map (brackish, medium-brackish, potable)
h) land-classification map (land-use capability map: four classes of arable land  classified  by degree of limitations on soil- and water-conservation measures required and/or range of crops; four classes of non-arable land classified by suitability for pasture, forest (renewable), forest (permanent cover), forest (reserve) 



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