Impact Of Sustainable Water Resource Management Strategies On Livelihood In Baghelkhand Region Of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Water is the essential of all natural resources. It provides the life support system for all living beings. Water sources like streams, Tanks and Ground water are products of the water resources. Land and water together support plant and animal life. Conservation of these basic resources is the key to food security, fuel and fodder supply, a healthy environment, and social and economic stability.

The demands on the limited amount of land we have for agriculture, forestry, industrialization, housing and transportation systems are steadily increasing with the burgeoning human population. The per capita availability of land in India has come down from 0.48 hectare in 1952, to 0.15 hectare in present scenario, and is posing a threat to the food chain and people’s livelihoods.

A vast amount of forest land has been denuded for agriculture use; and for greater exploitation of water, mineral and forest products. Erosion is another serious problem that causes soil loss and reduces soil fertility, and reduces the area of cultivable land food grain production.

In baghelkhand region natural resource base, sustaining its productivity, improving the standard of living, and endeavouring to restore the ecological balance. After the treatment of that particular area, it has shown a positive significant in livelihood. Watershed mission, it has reduces the waste of water and control the water depletion through ground water recharge by percolation tanks. The substantial increase in crop and livestock production as well per-capita income in GDDP so, we can say that in area proper of water resource management has great potential in development.

Keywords: Conservation, food chain, erosion, livelihood, watershed, depletion, exploitation