Lt. Gen. (retd.) TS Shergill, the former Principal Advisor to the CM punjab, sent me the following comments. Posting with his approval.
"Dear KBS,
Thank you for an in-depth article on the use of Rivers Ujh-Ravi waters.
When the Brits designed the Canal systems river water was fed into canals much like distributaries of rivers. The canals were earthen that had the disadvantage that they could not flow as far south as would later, lined canals however, the overall hydraulic pressure on the earth by the spread of river waters was maintained and water continued to seep into the Indus Aquifer thus, maintaining sub-soil water levels that were still suitable for Persian wheel irrigation.
The advent of dams and lined canals together with electro-mechanical drawing of water from the aquifer has not only dropped sub-soil water levels alarmingly but also, pushed up arsenic laced water levels in South Punjab.
In addition, the Bhakra, Pong and Shahpur Kandi dams do not contribute to charging the Indus Aquifer unlike what was done in Arizona and New Mexico when the Colorado Dam (Hoover) was built- the Ogalalla Aquifer lies beneath from Dakota to Texas and from the Appalachian to Sierra Nevada mountains. They have devised a method of recharging the Aquifer with cleansed water, no doubt expensive.
We have long and broad river beds that have allowed a free-for-all 'mand' agriculture and grazing for cattle other than in the Monsoon. If the riverine system can be reclaimed as wetlands, charged each year by the Monsoons, it would help to resuscitate the Indus Aquifer and perhaps, alleviate the high levels of arsenic laden waters in South Punjab, enable a fishing industry and discontinue filling of pockets through illegal sand mining.
I regret that my pleas is this regard met a stone wall when I had a little influence in Government even when, the World Bank was planning to invest $100 million in agro-irrigation projects. To ask for expensive and direct recharging of the Aquifer would have been met with astonishment!
"Punjab, its river waters and how SYL could become unnecessary"
"The Indian Express", today’s edition (i.e. July 27, 2913).
Carries my article on Punjab‘s river waters and SYL.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-ravi-river-barrage-8860517/
May like to peruse and share with our circulate to appropriate circles/ groups, if you deem fit.
Lt. Gen. (retd.) TS Shergill, the former Principal Advisor to the CM punjab, sent me the following comments. Posting with his approval.
"Dear KBS,
Thank you for an in-depth article on the use of Rivers Ujh-Ravi waters.
When the Brits designed the Canal systems river water was fed into canals much like distributaries of rivers. The canals were earthen that had the disadvantage that they could not flow as far south as would later, lined canals however, the overall hydraulic pressure on the earth by the spread of river waters was maintained and water continued to seep into the Indus Aquifer thus, maintaining sub-soil water levels that were still suitable for Persian wheel irrigation.
The advent of dams and lined canals together with electro-mechanical drawing of water from the aquifer has not only dropped sub-soil water levels alarmingly but also, pushed up arsenic laced water levels in South Punjab.
In addition, the Bhakra, Pong and Shahpur Kandi dams do not contribute to charging the Indus Aquifer unlike what was done in Arizona and New Mexico when the Colorado Dam (Hoover) was built- the Ogalalla Aquifer lies beneath from Dakota to Texas and from the Appalachian to Sierra Nevada mountains. They have devised a method of recharging the Aquifer with cleansed water, no doubt expensive.
We have long and broad river beds that have allowed a free-for-all 'mand' agriculture and grazing for cattle other than in the Monsoon. If the riverine system can be reclaimed as wetlands, charged each year by the Monsoons, it would help to resuscitate the Indus Aquifer and perhaps, alleviate the high levels of arsenic laden waters in South Punjab, enable a fishing industry and discontinue filling of pockets through illegal sand mining.
I regret that my pleas is this regard met a stone wall when I had a little influence in Government even when, the World Bank was planning to invest $100 million in agro-irrigation projects. To ask for expensive and direct recharging of the Aquifer would have been met with astonishment!
Warm regards,
Gen Shergill"