ABSTRACT
The impact of urbanization on irrigation tanks and the role of irrigation tanks in recharging groundwater and contributing to the income and livelihood security of farmers are highlighted in this study. As a case study, urbanization in Bengaluru is considered as the rate of growth of urbanization in Bengaluru has surpassed the rate of urbanization in India and that in the world, exacerbated by the software sector there, which is responsible for 38 percent of the country’s software exports. In the process, about 90 (irrigation) tanks have been totally converted for different urban purposes and the status of 195 tanks is not traceable due to encroachments for different purposes in the process of urbanization. With around 369 (irrigation) tanks totally lost in the urbanization of Bengaluru, an estimated 19,248 acres of irrigated area have been lost, displacing around 17 lakh man-days every year on a conservative basis, which has implications for migration. Highlighting the role of irrigation tanks and surface water in the recharge of groundwater, this study has demonstrated that due to groundwater recharge from irrigation tanks/water bodies, there has been a reduction in borewell failure by 50 percent, an increase in the average age of borewells by 120 percent and an increase in the farm net returns by 30 to 60 percent. Conversion of tanks for urbanization purposes implies the loss of livelihood security, providing a net income of around Rs. 1.6 lakhs per year and an employment loss of at least 100 man-days of family labor per year for farmers on a conservative basis. Thus, it is vital to critically examine the impact of urbanization on tanks/water bodies as the conversion of tanks and farmlands have serious implications on irrigation and domestic water, net income, livelihood, employment, as well as on migration, which in turn affect the household livelihood, food and economic security of farmers. Linking canal systems with tanks is crucial for the sustainability of both agriculture and drinking water in both urban and rural areas.
