OPEN BURNING

OHHHHH!!!!!!!!
BURNING OF CROP RESIDUE???????

More than 50% Farmers in Jind, Haryana, India still prefer open burning of crop residue in fields adding to environmental degradation as well as losing precious straw worth Rs. 5000-8000/- per hectare.

Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture Development

Dr. Anju^#, Pramendra Ranga

(Department of Energy and Environmental Sciences,Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, Haryana-125055)

^#corresponding author email: anjumalik27@yahoo.com

Abstract

Agriculture plays an important role in the development of Indian economy as majority of people in India still depend on agriculture and allied activities. The ever increasing demand for nutrient rich and healthy food, under changing environmental conditions always poses threat to agricultural production. Indian agriculture (being dominated in rural areas) have to face such challenges as poor infrastructure, lack of awareness among farmers, unfavorable environmental conditions, restricted access to recent technological breakthroughs, continuous degradation of soil and water resources. These challenges become severe when coupled with local environmental constraints. To address these challenges on sustained basis there is need to develop national programs for sustainable agriculture development through proper management of agricultural practices & policies coupled with suitable agricultural waste management practices. More thrust is required for building sustainable post-harvest capacities to reduce wastage. The government and funding bodies should give more emphasis on agricultural research & development of allied sector, efficient supply chain management, implementation of policies at grass root level. In recent times sustainable agriculture practices include conservation agriculture, organic farming, increased use of vermi-compost, use of biological methods for pest/weed control, crop rotation, maximum utilization of agricultural waste in other sectors, and application of suitable irrigation methods. This review paper discusses various strategies to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture development.

Keywords: Sustainable agricultural development, conservation agriculture, post-harvest capacities

Soil Conservation

Soil is a very important constituent, and is developed by a long process of weathering and disintegration of rocks which turn into sand or clay. The clay like fertile soil provides home to organisms like earthworms, beetles, ants which live in it. Soil provides anchorage to plants and trees. The plants and trees provide home to birds and animals. The crops growing on the soil provide us food and clothes. Thus, soil defines the quality of life around it, which is why it is important to use these soil conservation methods. Branches of environmental science like Earth science are constantly trying to find new methods, for maintaining the ecological balance. In different parts of world people studying soil science, are coming up with different new beneficial soil conservation methods.

Soil conservation is maintaining good soil health, by various practices. The aim of soil conservation methods is to prevent soil erosion, prevent soil's overuse and prevent soil contamination from chemicals. There are various measures that are used to maintain soil health, and prevent the above harms to soil.

Soil Conservation Strategies

There are many ways to conserve soil, some are suited to those areas where farming is done, and some are according to soil needs. Here are the various soil conservation methods that are practiced.

Planting Vegetation: This is one of the most effective and cost saving soil conservation methods. This measure is among soil conservation methods used by farmers. By planting trees, grass, plants, soil erosion can be greatly prevented. Plants help to stabilize the properties of soil and trees also act as a wind barrier and prevents soil from being blown away.

This is also among strategies used for soil conservation methods in urban areas, one can plant trees and plants in the landscape areas of the residential places. The best choices for vegetation are herbs, small trees, plants with wild flowers, and creepers which provide a ground cover.

Contour Ploughing: Contour farming or ploughing is used by farmers, wherein they plough across a slope and follow the elevation contour lines. This methods prevents water run off, and thus prevents soil erosion by allowing water to slowly penetrate the soil.

Maintaining the Soil pH: The measurement of soil's acidity or alkalinity is done by measuring the soil pH levels. Soil gets polluted due to the addition of basic or acidic pollutants which can be countered by maintaining the desirable pH of soil.

Soil Organisms: Without the activities performed by soil organisms, the organic material required by plants will litter and won't be available for plant growth. Using beneficial soil organisms like earthworms, helps in aeration of soil and makes the macro-nutrients available for the plants. Thus, the soil becomes more fertile and porous.

Crop Rotation Practice: Crop rotation is the soil conservation method where a series of different crops are planted one after the other in the same soil area, and is used greatly in organic farming. This is done to prevent the accumulation of pathogens, which occur if the same plants are grown in the soil, and also depletion of nutrients.

Watering the Soil: We water plants and trees, but it is equally important to water soil to maintain its health. Soil erosion occurs if the soil is blown away by wind. By watering and settling the soil, one can prevent soil erosion from the blowing away of soil by wind. One of the effective soil conservation methods in India is the drip irrigation system which provides water to the soil without the water running off.

Salinity Management: Excessive collection of salts in the soil has harmful effects on the metabolism of plants. Salinity can lead to death of the vegetation and thus cause soil erosion, which is why salinity management is important.

Terracing: Terracing is among one of the best soil conservation methods, where cultivation is done on a terrace leveled section of land. In terracing, farming is done on a unique step like structure and the possibility of water running off is slowed down.

Bordering from Indigenous Crops: It is preferable to plant native plants, but when native plants are not planted then bordering the crops with indigenous crops is necessary. This helps to prevent soil erosion, and this measure is greatly opted in poor rural areas.

No-tilling Farming Method: The process of soil being ploughed for farming is called tilling, wherein the fertilizers get mixed and the rows for plantation are created. However, this method leads to death of beneficial soil organisms, loss of organic matter and compaction of soil. Due to these side effects, the no-tilling strategy is used to conserve soil health.

Large Global Potential for Negative CO2 Emissions Through Biomass Linked With Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage

ScienceDaily (Aug. 3, 2011) — Combining biomass with carbon dioxide capture and storage could result in an annual global potential of up to 10 gigatonnes of negative CO2 emissions in the year 2050. This is one of the main findings of a study commissioned by IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme to the global energy consultancy company Ecofys. Compared to the almost 31 gigatonnes of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2010, this represents a huge CO2 emissions reduction potential.

Feeding biomass to energy conversion processes for electricity or biofuel production with subsequent capture and storage of CO2 from these sources -- Bio-CCS in short -- results in a negative greenhouse gas balance. "The combination actually removes CO2 from the atmosphere," says Joris Koornneef from Ecofys. "The biomass extracts CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and the CCS takes out the CO2 released in the energy conversion process."

The study identifies the global sustainable biomass potential and the CO2 storage potential. "One prerequisite is sustainable biomass production," Koornneef says. "In most regions, the sustainable supply of biomass, rather than CO2 storage potential, is likely to be the limiting factor. But worldwide, there is ample sustainable biomass available to achieve negative emissions."

Ecofys identifies six promising technology routes in the power and transport sectors, including biomass combustion and gasification for power production, and biomass conversion to bio-ethanol and biodiesel. Taking only technical limitations into account, the maximum annual potential is approximately either 10 gigatonnes (billion metric tonnes) of negative emissions in the power sector or 6 gigatonnes in the biofuel sector. In the short term, bio-ethanol production is the most promising option as it allows CO2 capture at relatively low cost.

Currently, a major hindrance is the lack of a clear economic incentive to store CO2 from biomass and create negative emissions. Without such an incentive, the huge potential for negative emissions will not be deployed. In the near term, useful preparatory work would involve a more detailed look at the most promising regions where sustainable biomass production and conversion can be combined with CCS.

Renewable Sources Could Provide 77% of World’s Energy by 2050

By JAMES KANTER

BRUSSELS — Renewable sources could provide a majority of the world’s energy supplies by 2050, but only if governments dramatically increase financial and political support for technologies like wind and solar power, experts from a United Nations panel said Monday.
Green

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in a report that the availability of renewable sources like the wind and sun was virtually unlimited, and could provide up to 77 percent of the world’s energy needs by mid-century, but governments needed to adopt policies to take advantage of them.

“The report shows that it is not the availability of the resource, but the public policies that will either expand or constrain renewable energy development over the coming decades,” said Ramón Pichs Madruga, a member of the I.P.C.C. and the director of an economics research center in Cuba.

The report said renewable sources — bioenergy, wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and ocean energy — currently accounted for about 13 percent of global energy supply.

To reach the goal of generating nearly 80 percent of the world’s energy from those same sources would require investments by governments and the private sector amounting to $5.1 trillion through 2020, and nearly $7.2 trillion between 2021 and 2030, according to the report.

The benefits would include better public health from cleaner air, as well as fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which would help hold an increase in global temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius.

Even so, a “substantial increase of renewables is technically and politically very challenging,” said Ottmar Edenhofer, a member of the I.P.C.C. and the chief economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.

Among the most challenging factors is using a wider variety of technically and geographically diverse sources of energy in the future, according to the report.

Under the I.P.C.C. process, 120 experts and researchers prepared a Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation of about 1,000 pages comparing more than 160 scenarios on renewable energy.

In the second part of the process, government representatives of U.N. member states took until the early hours of Monday to agree on an outline of that report, called a Summary for Policy Makers. That summary is hugely important to clean energy companies and activists to press government leaders and international lenders to adjust energy policies and pay for new investment and infrastructure.

Wildlife Conservation in India

By: Sangeeta Gupta

Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals, and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative. Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems, Deserts, rain forests, plains, and other areas including the most developed urban sites all have distinct forms of wildlife. While the term in popular culture usually refers to animals that are untouched by human factors, most scientists agree that wildlife around the world is impacted by human activities.

Indian wildlife:-
The wildlife of India is a mix of species of diverse origins. The region's rich and diverse wildlife is preserved in numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country. Since India is home to a number of rare and threatened animal species, wildlife management in the country is essential to preserve these species. According to one study, India is home to about 60-70% of the world's biodiversity. India, lying within the Indomalaya ecozone, is home to about 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species.

Many ecoregions, such as the shola forests, also exhibit extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant species are endemic. India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and Northeast India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes lie the sal-dominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; teak-dominated dry deciduous forest of central and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central Deccan and western Gangetic plain. Important Indian trees include the medicinal neem, widely used in rural Indian herbal remedies. The pipal fig tree, shown on the seals of Mohenjo-daro, shaded the Gautama Buddha as he sought enlightenment.

Many Indian species are descendants of taxa originating in Gondwana, to which India originally belonged. Peninsular India's subsequent movement towards, and collision with, the Laurasian landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, volcanism and climatic changes 20 million years ago caused the extinction of many endemic Indian forms. Soon thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two zoogeographical passes on either side of the emerging Himalaya. As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians. Notable endemics are the Nilgiri leaf monkey and the brown and carmine Beddome's toad of the Western Ghats. India contains 172, or 2.9%, of IUCN-designated threatened species. These include the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, and the Indian white-rumped vulture, which suffered a near-extinction from ingesting the carrion of diclofenac-treated cattle.

In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the system of national parks and protected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially expanded. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard crucial habitat; further federal protections were promulgated in the 1980s. Along with over 500 wildlife sanctuaries, India now hosts 14 biosphere reserves, four of which are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves; 25 wetlands are registered under the Ramsar Convention. The varied and rich wildlife of India has had a profound impact on the region's popular culture. Common name for wilderness in India is Jungle which was adopted by the British colonialists to the English language. The word has been also made famous in The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. India's wildlife has been the subject of numerous other tales and fables such as the Panchatantra and the Jataka tales.

The gradual emergence of the human beings as the most dominant species among all other species of animals and the attempt of the human beings to set themselves apart from other species is the main underlying cause of the contemporary environmental disaster. The main reason behind a threat to the wildlife and the ecosystem is the constantly growing deforestation, poaching and negligence towards animals and nature. The Indian Government has started nature projects like, Project Tiger, Nature Camps, Jungle Lodges, etc. to encourage wildlife awareness among the common people. Besides preserving the natural heritage, these projects also promote eco-tourism.

Various Projects:-
Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only existent habitation for the nearly extinct Asiatic Lions in India. The Kaziranga Sanctuary in Assam is a major example of good effort to save the endangered Rhinoceros. Similarly, Periyar in Kerala is doing a great job to preserve the wild Elephants and Dachigam National Park is progressing rapidly to save Kashmiri Stag.

Wildlife Conservation in India occupies a total area of about 3.29 million sq. km. that contains floral and faunal species, mammals, reptiles, insects and birds. The Wildlife Conservation in India has become the most popular holiday destinations because of its diverseness. In India there are 571 sanctuaries and reserve parks that are protected by the Indian Government, mainly meant for the protection of the extinct species of animals and birds. Predators, Carnivores and Herbivores, - all are equally important to maintain the vital ecological processes as nutrient and water cycling. India has over 500 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries (IUCN Category IV Protected Area). Among these, the 28 Tiger Reserves are governed by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Some wildlife sanctuaries are specifically named Bird Sanctuary, eg. Keoladeo National Park before attained National Park status.

Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries. Wildlife sanctuaries of national importance to conservation, usually due to some flagship faunal species, are named National Wildlife Sanctuary, like national chambal (gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary for conserving the Gharial (1978).

Some of the important wildlife sanctuaries in India are:-
• Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh
• Gir National Park & Sanctuary in Gujarat
• Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Kaziranga National Park in Assam
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
• Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan
• Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal
• Dachigam National Park in Jammu & Kashmir
• Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam

National Parks of India:-
India's first national park (an IUCN category II protected area) was established in 1935 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park. By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation reliant species. Further federal legislation strengthening protections for wildlife was introduced in the 1980s. As of April 2007, there are 96 national parks. All national park lands encompass a combined 38,029.18 km², 1.16% of India's total surface area. A total of 166 national parks have been authorized. Plans are underway to establish the remaining scheduled parks.

List of National Parks:-

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park-Assam
• Desert National Park-Rajasthan
• Dachigam National Park-Jammu and Kashmir
• Corbett National Park-Uttarakhand
• Chandoli National Park-Maharashtra
• Campbell Bay National Park-Andaman and Nicobar
• Anshi National Park-Karnataka
• Balphakram National Park-Meghalaya
• Bandhavgarh National Park-Madhya Pradesh
• Bandipur National Park-Karnataka
• Bannerghatta National Park-Karnataka
• Vansda National Park-Gujarat
• Betla National Park-Jharkhand
• Bhitarkanika National Park-Orissa
• Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar-Gujarat
• Buxa Tiger Reserve-West Bengal
• Fossil National Park-Madhya Pradesh
• Great Himalayan National Park-Himachal Pradesh
• Indira Gandhi National Park (Annamalai National Park)- Tamil Nadu
• Dudhwa National Park-Uttar Pradesh
• Intanki National Park-Nagaland
• Guindy National Park-Tamil Nadu
• Govind Pashu Vihar-Uttarakhand
• Kaziranga National Park-Assam
• Khangchendzonga National Park-Sikkim
• Kishtwar National Park-Jammu and Kashmir
• Van Vihar National Park-Madhya Pradesh
• Kanha National Park-Madhya Pradesh
• Mollem National Park-Goa
• Mount Harriet National Park-Andaman and Nicobar

The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man & Biosphere' (MAB) programme by UNESCO in 1971. Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by National Governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity (CES., UNESCO, 2005., IUCN, 1979).

List of Biosphere Reserves
• Achanakmar-Amarkanta- Madhya Pradesh & Chhattishgarh
• Agasthyamalai- Kerala
• Dehang-Debang- Arunachal Pradesh
• Dibru-Saikhowa- Assam
• Great Nicobar- Andaman and Nicobar
• Gulf of Mannar - Tamil Nadu
• Khangchenjunga – Sikkim
• Manas- Assam
• Nanda Devi-Uttaranchal
• Nilgiri -Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka
• Nokrek-Meghalaya
• Pachmarhi -Madhya Pradesh
• Simlipal-Orissa
• Sunderbans-West Bengal

Biosphere Reserve Objectives:-
Each Biosphere Reserve is intended to fulfill three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:
•  A conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;

•  A development function - to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;

•  A logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development (UNESCO, 2005).

The Indian government has established 15 Biosphere Reserves of India, (categories roughly corresponding to IUCN Category V Protected areas), which protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a National Park or Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. Four of the fifteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.

• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
• Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
• Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Conservation of wildlife in India:-
The need for conservation of wildlife in India is often questioned because of the apparently incorrect priority in the face of dire poverty of the people. However Article 48 of the Constitution of India specifies that "the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country" and Article 51-A states that "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures."

Large and charismatic mammals are important for wildlife tourism in India and several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cater to these needs. Project Tiger started in 1972 is a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats. At the turn of the 20th century, one estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 40,000, yet an Indian tiger census conducted in 1972 revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. Various pressures in the later part of the 20th century led to the progressive decline of wilderness resulting in the disturbance of viable tiger habitats. At the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) General Assembly meeting in Delhi in 1969, serious concern was voiced about the threat to several species of wildlife and the shrinkage of wilderness in the India. In 1970, a national ban on tiger hunting was imposed and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. The framework was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an ecological approach.

Project Tiger which was launched on April 1, 1973, has become one of the most successful conservation ventures in modern history. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted 'tiger reserves' which are representative of various bio-geographical regions falling within India. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in their natural environment. Today, there are 27 Project Tiger wildlife reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 km².Project Elephant, though less known, started in 1992 and works for elephant protection in India. Most of India's rhinos today survive in the Kaziranga National Park. The wildlife institute of India (WII) is a government institution run by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education which trains wildlife managers and wildlife researchers.

Trained personnel from WII have contributed in studying and protecting wildlife in India. WII has also popularized wildlife studies and careers. The institute is based in Dehradun, India. It is located in Chandrabani, which is close to the southern forests of Dehradun. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education also runs the Forest Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Forest Management

Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 :-
In 1972 by the Government of India. Prior to 1972, India only had five designated national parks. Among other reforms, the Act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or otherwise harvesting these species was largely outlawed.

The Act provides for the protection of Wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has its own wildlife act. It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection, with absolute protection being provided under Schedule I and part II of schedule II with the highest penalties prescribed for offences under these schedules and Species listed in the Sch. IV are also protected but the penalties are much lower, with the enforcement authorities having the power to compound offences (as in they impose fines on the offenders).

Biosphere Reserves

The term ‘Biosphere Reserve' should denote an area:
• Which is, set aside for the conservation of the resources of the biosphere and for the improvement of the relationship between man and the environment;
• Which is, to serve as sites for long term scientific research as well as education all over the world.

List of Biosphere Reserves
• Achanakmar-Amarkanta- Madhya Pradesh & Chhattishgarh
• Agasthyamalai- Kerala
• Dehang-Debang- Arunachal Pradesh
• Dibru-Saikhowa- Assam
• Great Nicobar- Andaman and Nicobar
• Gulf of Mannar - Tamil Nadu
• Khangchenjunga – Sikkim
• Manas- Assam
• Nanda Devi-Uttaranchal
• Nilgiri -Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka
• Nokrek-Meghalaya
• Pachmarhi -Madhya Pradesh
• Simlipal-Orissa
• Sunderbans-West Bengal

Biosphere Reserve Objectives:-
Each Biosphere Reserve is intended to fulfill three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:
•  A conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;
•  A development function - to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;
•  A logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development (UNESCO, 2005).
 

IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation.Founded in 1948, its headquarters is located in the Lake Geneva area in Gland, Switzerland.
The IUCN brings together 83 states, 108 government agencies, 766 Non-governmental organizations and 81 international organizations and about 10,000 experts and scientists from countries around the world. IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

Water Conservation

A step to conserve water is the step to secure the future. The most essential among all the natural resources on earth is water. A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold for the thirsty man. If each one of us make efforts to save water today , it will save us later. Water conservation is the most effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming. Water conservation is what that can reduce the scarcity of water. It aims to improve the efficiency of use of water, and reduce losses and waste. 


Tips to save water :

• Avoid leakage of water from the taps.
• Turn the tap off when not in use especially when you brush your teeth or wash clothes.
• Rainwater harvesting is the another method to conserve water.
• The water supply should be limited in those areas which enjoys the unlimited water supplies.
• Check the leakage of water in the toilets. Also get check the hidden water leaks.
• Educate the mind of the people in the rural areas to save the water.
• Promote the conservation of water through media and wall posters.
• Never throw the water unnecessary on roads which can be used for gardening and cleaning.
• Avoid unnecessary flushing the toilets. Dispose off the tissues, cigarettes and other waste into the bin instead of toilets.
• Use minimum amount of water to bath.
• Water Waste restrictions.
• Improvement in the water distribution system.
• Water your lawn only when it is needed.
• Use a broom instead of hose to clean the sidewalks or to wash the car.
• Capture the water that is leaking and repair it as soon as possible.
• You can use washing machine to wash clothes that does not consume much water.
• Donot leave the tap running while washing the dishes in the kitchen.
• Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of water.

Benefits to Conserve water :

• If you save water it can save your money bills.
• Reduction in interior water use cuts waste water flows, especially overflowing of gutters which contaminates the environment.
• Environment benefits include eco system and habitat protection.
• Water conservation helps in improving the quality of your drinking water.

Technical methods to conserve water :

Rainwater Harvesting :
Rainwater harvesting is the gathering and collection of water from the rooftop. The traditional method of rain water harvesting is the most effective and simple way to conserve the water. It means utilization of rain water for the domestic as well as agricultural purposes. There are three technical methods of rain water harvesting such as Catchment, Conveyance and storage.

Historical Water Bodies :
There are many traditional water bodies which have been in disuse for the longer time. These bodies can be reused as the recharging points.

Ponds :
Steps should be taken to avoid dumping of sewage into the village ponds. Efforts need to be made to deepen these ponds with the dragline machines. Garbage and other waste sholud not be dumped into the ponds.