Abstract:
The livelihoods of the rural population of the Sundarbans are precarious, freshwater aquifers are deep, expensive to exploit and suffering over-exploitation. Farmers use ponds, filled during the monsoon for dry season irrigation, but these have limited capacity. Entire area is affected by soil salinity. During kharif season salinity is less due to leaching but high in rabi season mainly from January onwards when drying starts. With onsets of summer patches of salt deposits can be seen. In some areas acid sulphate and acid saline soils are found. The soils have high acidity with salinity. Acid sulphate soils are found in sub surface layers. These soils are exposed after digging in addition to this affect crops, fish growth in ponds is poor with high mortality rates. Availability of good quality water for irrigation is a problem due to the depletion in water levels as well as deterioration in quality. There are rise of extreme events like cyclone; changing rainfall distribution etc. Some of the proposed measurement measures are addition of organic matter in the fields; mulching; growing salt tolerant crops; liming for acid soils; rain water harvesting and organization of awareness programmes. An Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) approach that utilises saline aquifers adds resilience to the water supply system, without the challenges inherent in the management of the freshwater aquifers.
