Scary trend

Patna, April 8: A study report released recently reveals that surface water resources in south Bihar declined sharply between 1981 and 2000.

The trend is alarming because surface water plays a major role in recharging groundwater.

Pradhan Parth Sarthi, faculty member at Central University of Bihar, conducted the study to observe surface water changes in Bihar in the 20th century. He found that south Bihar districts experienced a sharp decline in surface water availability between 1981-90 and 1991-2000. “The study has concluded that there was a sharp decline in surface water resources across the state during the period but it is comparatively more in the districts south of the Ganga,” he said.

The reason has been attributed to a decline in rains during those two decades.

The researchers assessed surface water resources in the three agro-climate zones of Bihar to arrive at the conclusion. Parth Sarthi said: “The districts in the agro climatic zone III (which includes Patna, Gaya, Buxar, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Bhagalpur) have shown the lowest levels of surface water.”

The report claims that the trend would adversely impact agriculture and water resources in south Bihar through which only the Sone flows.

Parth Sarthi said: “Locals in the zone said they were facing problems in irrigation owing to the water scarcity. There is no surface water in the local reservoirs during the lean period, they said. The deep wells and hand pumps also dry up.”