Jaladhara Jalaharathi Year Round Water Conservation Program
Source:new-indian-express ↗
ఇది ఎందుకు ముఖ్యం
This article is directly relevant for APPSC Group 1 Prelims as it covers a major state-level scheme ('Jaladhara-Jalaharathi') addressing water scarcity. It also connects climatic phenomena (El Nino) with tangible local impacts on agriculture, irrigation, and resource management—core themes in Geography and State Economy.
సారాంశం
Anticipating a severe 39% rainfall deficit due to the El Nino effect, the Andhra Pradesh government under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has escalated the ‘Jaladhara-Jalaharathi’ programme into a continuous, year-round initiative. The scheme focuses on rigorous water conservation methods, including the restoration of water bodies, micro-basin connectivity, and the construction of farm ponds. To safeguard basic needs, water in key reservoirs will be reserved exclusively for drinking purposes, and farmers are being advised to cultivate crops that require less water.
ముఖ్య అంశాలు
- The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to execute the ‘Jaladhara-Jalaharathi’ programme as a year-round water conservation initiative.
- This proactive measure responds to a forecasted 39% deficit in rainfall driven by the El Nino phenomenon.
- The initiative focuses on micro-basin connectivity, tank restoration, farm pond construction, and protecting livestock and agriculture.
- Water in major reservoirs such as Velugodu, Gorakallu, Owk, Jeedipalli, and Cherlopalli will be strictly reserved for drinking water needs.
- Farmers will be guided to adopt crop planning strategies that favour drought-resistant or low-water-consuming crops.
ముఖ్యమైన పదాలు
Jaladhara-Jalaharathi programme
A water conservation initiative by the Andhra Pradesh government involving restoration of tanks, feeder channels, farm ponds, and trenching to ensure drinking water and irrigation security during droughts.
UPSC context
Important for GS 2 (State Policies) and GS 3 (Water Resources, Agriculture) to illustrate localized drought-mitigation strategies.
El Nino effect
A climatic phenomenon characterized by the anomalous warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, often leading to reduced rainfall and droughts in the Indian subcontinent.
UPSC context
Crucial for GS 1 (Geography) and GS 3 (Environment/Agriculture) regarding Indian Monsoon disruptions and drought preparedness.
Micro-basin connectivity
The interlinking of small, localized natural catchments (micro-basins) to transfer surplus rainwater to deficit areas, enhancing overall water retention and groundwater recharge.
UPSC context
Relevant for GS 3 (Water Conservation, Disaster Management) as a sustainable model for localized water security.
ప్రిలిమ్స్ ఉచ్చు
Under the National Water Policy, irrigation and agriculture are given the highest priority during severe drought years.
The National Water Policy explicitly places safe drinking water for humans and animals as the absolute first priority during scarcity, superseding irrigation.
అనుసంధానమైన స్థిర భావనలు
How does El Nino affect the Indian summer monsoon?
- Ocean Warming: It involves abnormal warming of surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, altering global pressure cells.
- Weakened Winds: It weakens the Walker circulation and trade winds, significantly reducing moisture transport towards the Indian subcontinent.
- Rainfall Deficit: It typically suppresses monsoon rainfall, leading to widespread droughts and delayed crop sowing in regions like Peninsular India.
What is the priority of water allocation under India's National Water Policy?
- Highest Priority: Safe drinking water for human beings and livestock strictly supersedes all other water uses during periods of scarcity.
- Secondary Uses: Irrigation, hydropower, ecology, agro-industries, and non-agricultural industries follow drinking water in descending order of priority.
అంతర-అంశ నమూనాలు
Climate-Smart Agriculture & Millets
Drought years prompt shifts from water-intensive paddy to climate-resilient crops like millets, connecting disaster mitigation with the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.
Krishna-Penner inter-basin transfers
Reservoirs like Velugodu and Owk are critical nodes for inter-basin water distribution, frequently utilized to transfer floodwater from the Krishna basin to the deficit Penner basin.
Expect a 2026 prelims question linking El Nino mechanics to the National Water Policy's allocation hierarchy and climate-smart agriculture.
అనుసంధాన PYQలు · 2
అనుసంధాన PYQలు · 2
- 2019APPSC_PRELIMSGS1
El-Nino is a complex weather system that appears once every three to seven years. Consider the following statements in this regard : A. The appearance of warm currents off the Coast of Peru in the Eastern Pacific. B. The word El-Nino means 'Christ Child' because the current appears around Christmas in December. C. El-Nino was one of the reasons for the deficit rainfall in India (2014). Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 2023APPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Polavaram Project is a
