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Sustainable snowmelt water harvesting technology: an irrigation water solution under climate change effect in the dry cold deserts, Indian Himalayan region—a case study

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Abstract

In the Himalayan region, most of the glacier deposits showed a shrinking trend by the present global climate change scenario. In most cases, seasonal variations in the frequency of snowfall rate, short melting period, and rapid runoff of water have been felt. This realized us to develop sustainable snow water harvesting technology from the seasonal snowfall to irrigate the maximum dry land (cultivable and suitable wasteland) during summer rainless months. Climatic data from automatic weather stations will pave the trend of climate change effect and useful to understand the seasonal variation of local weather. For the conservation of water, the study is appropriate for dry areas of the cold desert by constructing a sequence of improved underground poly-tanks, desilting tanks well connected with defined catchment areas. Simultaneously, the strength quality of the constructed different designed tanks was tested for longer durability. Over the few years, the pace of rapidly melting permanent glaciers occurred in the cold desert Himalayas, and hence shortage for availability of irrigation water has been felt. This work gives us technological solutions towards adaptation measures against climate change by tapping of the water from seasonal winter fresh snowfall (otherwise wasted by runoff), which is not attempted seriously yet. This technology is helpful to harness maximum sustainable water harvesting potential and find an additional source other than the prevailing system of harvesting from the permanent source of glaciers/avalanches. It is also useful for the improvement of ecosystem diversity, productivity, and implementation of various policy schemes in the mountainous regions of the World.

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Acknowledgements

The author wants to acknowledge the Director of CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology Palampur (HP) India for administrative support and encouragement. The weather data received from Dr. Amit Chawla and encouragement received from Dr. Anil Sood of CSIR-IHBT Palampur Himachal Pradesh India are highly acknowledged. I also want to thank Er. R.K. Verma, Er. Anil Kaundal, Mr. Sunil Kumar, Mr. Shubam for their Technical support. The paper is approved for the communication by the internal review committee with publication no. 4109.

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Financial help received from the CSIR- New Delhi India (Project code BSC209) is acknowledged.

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  1. CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, HP, 176 061, India

    Ashok Singh

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Correspondence to Ashok Singh.

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Singh, A. Sustainable snowmelt water harvesting technology: an irrigation water solution under climate change effect in the dry cold deserts, Indian Himalayan region—a case study. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 8, 103 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-022-00679-0

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