Project
Hindon Project
The Hindon sub-basin, part of the Gangetic Plain, suffers from water depletion and pollution due to overextraction and emissions by agriculture and other sectors. The aim of the project is to determine the contribution of agriculture and other sectors to problems with water quality and quantity by monitoring and modelling. The project is structured into three work packages:
1. In WP1 the quality and quantity of water flows will be analysed and the origins of water flows and pollutants, particularly nitrate and lead, will be traced with isotope analysis.
2. In WP2 the current agricultural practices will be mapped and quantified in the sub-basin area. Alternative agricultural management options to improve water use efficiency and to reduce emissions by agriculture will be identified. These will be evaluated and visualised at the levels of fields, farms, landscapes, and the whole sub-basin.
3. In WP3 a vision of future development will be formulated and steps for its implementation will be identified and started.
The project has found that the Hindon basin is intensively used for urban, industrial and agricultural purposes. Agriculture is dominated by sugarcane and wheat production with high application rates of fertilizers and biocides. Measurements and participatory monitoring have demonstrated high levels of pollutants in rivers and in soils. Dissolved solids, alkalinity and hardness exceeded acceptable standards. Major sources of pollution in the Hindon Basin have been identified. Farmers are concerned about health impacts of pollution; they have been informed and empowered to address the problem. Stakeholder relations have been built to develop and implement agricultural water management plans.