Annual Progress Report 2008-09

SUMMARY OF WORK

2. Modelling of spring discharge

The study was undertaken to develop and verify the spring discharge prediction model on
weakly basis, considering rainfall-spring discharge process of micro-watershed of Henval River,
located near Ranichauri, in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand using Genetic Algorithm. The
watershed, drains into Henval River in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, covering an area of
871 ha. It is located between 78o 22’ 28” to 78o 24’ 57” E longitude and 30o 17’ 19” to 30o 18’ 52”
N latitude. The elevation varies from 960 to 2000 m above mean sea level (MSL).
The prediction model based on rainfall-spring discharge process of Hill Campus has been
developed by considering the system as linear and time invariant. The average values of
meteorological data viz., rainfall, evaporation, temperature, humidity, wind speed and spring
discharge data on weekly basis during the years 1999-2005 were used for the development of
model and 2006-2007 for validation. The calibration of the spring discharge model has been done
using Genetic Algorithm optimization technique and the model having optimum combination of
qualitative performance indices was finally selected. The qualitative performance of the models
have been ascertained by estimating the values of root mean square error (RMSE), average
prediction error (APE), coefficient of variation of the residuals error (CVRE), coefficient of
efficiency (CE) and correlation coefficient (CC).
Only the rainfall, occurring in the study area was lagged, keeping other climatic
parameters constant. For a four week time lag scale, the relationship between single input variable
(rainfall) and single output variable (discharge) with three models were evaluated. Similarly, the
relationship between two input variables (rainfall, evaporation), three input variables (rainfall.
evaporation, temperature), four input variables (rainfall, evaporation, temperature, relative
humidity), and five input variables (rainfall, evaporation, temperature, relative humidity, wind
speed) and single output variable (discharge) were evaluated with various models. From the above
relationships, it was found that the relationship between five input variables and single output
variable yielded minimum value of RMSE (5630) and the correlation coefficient for the equation
was found to be 0.75.
Another relationship between input and output variables with the moving average of
rainfall variable was evaluated. It was observed that the model with five input variables with
moving average of rainfall variable and single output variable in exponential form, yielded
minimum value of RMSE (4806) and maximum value of correlation coefficient (R = 0.83). The
qualitative performance indices of model, confirm the applicability of the model. The spring
discharge prediction model developed, calibrated and validated for its prediction performance for
Hill Campus, a micro-watershed of Henval River, is given below:
Q= exp (8.469568 - 0.000608*R + 0.000385*MV1 + 0.000020*MV2 + 0.005898*MV3 +
0.006950*MV4 - 0.000500*MV5 + 0.001000 *MV6 - 0.010000 *MV7 - 0.250888*E
+ 0.054633 *T + 0.012540 *RH - 0.029229*WS) ….(8.1)

For optimal utilization of spring water a Linear programming was used and results were
obtained using TORA software. Out of 28.38 ha area, the maximum area available for the crops
using linear programming was found to be 3.39 ha for lahi and 1.86 ha for wheat during rabi
season and 0.61 ha for paddy, 17.14 ha for sorghum and 10.61 ha for maize during kharif season.
Following are the conclusion drawn from the study,
 Annual Progress Report 2008-09

1. The rainfall value with a four week time lag scale yielded minimum value of RMSE.
Thus, it is clear that water coming through rainfall starts contributing the spring
discharge after four weeks.
2. The model with five input variables (rainfall, evaporation, temperature, relative
humidity, wind speed) with moving average of rainfall variable and output variable
(discharge) exhibits strong relationship for the spring discharge prediction model as it
yielded minimum value of root mean square error.
3. The coefficient of efficiency of the developed model, for spring discharge prediction,
was found to be varying from 0.78 to 0.91 and coefficient of variation of the residual
error (CVRE) ranged from 0.32 to 0.54 with an absolute prediction error (APE) less
than 25%. Thus, the model is capable of predicting weekly spring discharge with
reasonable accuracy.
4. The model was validiated with data of for 2006 and 2007 and result showed that the
model over predicted the spring discharge during August and September of 2007. It
may be due to very high rainfall during these months as compared to rainfall
considered for the model development.
5. The GA technique proved to be an efficient and reliable method for estimating the
parameters of the spring discharge prediction model.
6. The GA optimization technique was converged to arrive optimal or near-optimal
solutions befitting with global optima.

3. Consumptive use planning of surface and ground water in Jamrani dam command area

The Jamrani dam command consists the parts of the Haldwani block of Nainital district,
and Bajpur, Gadarpur and Rudrapur Blocks of Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand;
whole of Bilaspur Block and parts of Swar, Said Nagar, Chamraua and Milak Blocks of Rampur
District; and part of Baheri, Shergarh, Fatehganj, and Meerganj Blocks of Bareilly District of
Uttar Pradesh in Ganga basin. The total culturable command area of the project is 150301 ha.
About 60 % area of Jamrani dam command falls in Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts of
Uttarakhabd and 40 % in Rampur and Bareilly districts of Uttar Pradesh. The soil in the Jamrani
dam command area falls under three major groups of the Uttar Pradesh soils. They are Bhabar,
Tarai and alluvial plains of North West Uttar Pradesh.

The major crops of the Jamrani dam command area are rice and sugarcane in the kharif
season and wheat in the rabi Season. The other crops grown in the kharif season are barely, gram,
lentil, pea, lahi, potato, tomato and berseem. The ground water available in Tarai and Plain area of
Jamrani dam command is about 2585.4 ha-m in and 23517.5ha-m. As per the actional plan, the
quantity of water which will be released from the Jamrani dam is 9962 ha-m for Tarai belt and
15428 ha-m for Gangetic plain of the command area. Keeping this in view, a linear programming
model has been used to find out the optimal cropping pattern for the area, considering the
additional quantity of water which will be released after the construction of Jamrani dam.

The optimal cropping pattern was obtained for Bhabar, tarai and plain sub region
separately by considering the total water availability in the area, irrigation water requirement and
cost of cultivation of different crops grown in the command area. Crop area constraints were
imposed considering the food and fodder requirement of the population of human and livestock’s
of the command area. In the optimal crop plan for Bhabar area, lahi, wheat, lentil, potato,
sugarcane, berseem and rice are appeared at a level of 85, 10886, 95, 125, 1275, 75 and 11266
hectares, respectively with aggregate net return of Rs. 72.13 million. For Tarai areas the crops
appear in the optimal crop plan are lahi, wheat, lentil, sugarcane, berseem, rice and maize at a
level of 250, 11040, 250, 8000, 750, 12040 and 250 hectares, respectively. The aggregate net
 Annual Progress Report 2008-09

return obtained is Rs. 106.467 million. For plain areas the crops appeared in the optimal crop plan
are lahi, wheat, lentil, mentha, sugarcane, berseem, rice and maize at a level of 750, 250852.80,
900, 1300, 15000, 1050, 100421.2 and 2050 hectares, respectively. The aggregate net return
obtained is Rs. 475.336 million. Study shows that after construction of proposed Jamrani dam
surface water availability would increase and this will reduce actual net ground water requirement
in the command area.

4. Natural resources and socio economic study of Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttarakhand

The study was carried out for the land and water resource management and socio-
economic status of Hanswan village of Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand .The study area is
located at Longitude 78o 23’14.3” E and Latitude 30o19’30.66” N on the Rishikesh –Uttarkashi
route. Soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth from five spots of the village
Hanswan . Spring water samples were collected from three springs namely Hill campus, Phakua
and that of Hanswan village. A socio-economic survey was conducted in Hanswan village. For
analysis of the water samples, physico-chemical tests were performed at the Water Quality
Testing Laboratory of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Department, Pantnagar. Water
samples were tested for pH, TDS, DO, EC, chloride content, alkalinity and hardness. Texural
analysis was conducted on the soil samples by Boyoucos hydrometer method and sieve analysis.
The rainfall analysis was conducted for the monthly and yearly drought of the study area.
Following are the conclusions drawn from the study:

1. Soil of the study area was found to have a texture varying from sandy loam to loamy sand
and sandy clay loam to loamy sand. The soils were found to be highly acidic in nature.
2. As far as the physico-chemical analysis of water is concerned, the water from Hanswan
village spring was found to be slightly acidic that did not require any conventional
treatment.
3. On studying the annual rainfall it was found that the rainfall was a maximum 48.8%
during the year 1999 and a minimum of 30.7% during the year 2001.
4. From the drought analysis, it was concluded that about 57% of the total number of months
were normal months. Most of the drought months had occurred in the post and pre-
monsoon periods. During the Rabi season i.e., October to February, out of total 35 months,
the number of drought months worked out to be 54.28%.This indicates the failure of Rabi
crops under rain-fed conditions.
5. The average family strength of was 5.33 members. The average land holding per villager
was 0.1118 ha and average land holding per family member was 0.0275.
6. Hanswan village had 3.77% illiterate males as to 32.56 % illiterate females. The families
had an average land holding of 0.15 ha. Maximum average land holding /farmer family
was 0.24 ha and maximum average land holding /villager was 0.0025 ha.
7. Over a period of time, there was a greater interest shown by farmers for vegetables and
agricultural crops and for education by the villagers. Because of deforestation soil erosion
had increased.

Transfer of developed technology

Keeping in view need of transfer of developed technology, a “Transfer of the Developed
Technology to the Farmers” Programme was taken up. The farmers were educated on the above
mentioned aspects. During this Programme defective pumping units of the farmers were also
identified and in a few cases the rectification of defective pumping units could be taken up. The
farmers were demonstrated the performance of their pumping systems before and after the
rectification, saving in fuel consumption and increase in discharge. To acquaint the farmers of the
region with the development of propeller pump, foot valves, and to educate them regarding the
selection of pumps and pipe fittings to achieve the high efficiency of the pumping system, optimal
 Annual Progress Report 2008-09

utilization of available land and water resources, and their efficient management meetings with
the farmers were organised at different places in, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts of
Uttarakhand. In these meetings 1188 farmers participated who were educated on different aspects,
such as: selection of pumps for efficient operation, selection of prime-mover, selection of pipe
size, selection of foot valve/ reflux valve, selection of bends and other fittings, selection of pump
for high discharge against low heads, conjunctive use of canal and ground water, use of micro-
irrigation for water conservation, proper management of land and water resources etc.

Rectification of Defective Pumping Systems

Sixteen defective pumping systems of farmers, spread in Udham Singh Nagar,and Nanital
districts were identified and selected for rectification and demonstration of rectification process.
Out of these defects the rectification measures with respect to removal of nipple and re-placement
of short radius bend with long radius standard bend were carried out on 12 pumping systems
owned by the farmers. The owners of the defective pumping units were advised to change the
concerned defective components and demonstrated the comparison of the existing performance
with the performance after rectification by replacing the defective components. The rectification
resulted in the increase of discharge rate of the pumps by about 4.68 % (2504 lit/ hr) and saving in
the fuel consumption by about 185 lit/ year assuming on an average 2000 hours per year of
operation of the pump sets, the additional quantity of water as a result of the rectification comes
out to be 5008 m3 per annum.

5. Study of effect of aspects (N-E-S-W) and altitude on the performance of natural springs

Seven springs named viz. Patwadangar, Barsimi, Kalimath-A, Kalimath-B, Kosi, Kosi
Katarmal and Chaubatia were chosen in the Kumaon Himalaya for studying the effect of aspect
and altitude on discharge rate. During the experimental period, two springs named Barsimi and
Kalimath-B dried. Moreover, one new spring named Ranibagh was added in the experimental
study. Flowing behavior of the Kosi Katarmal spring (high discharge along with smooth pattern)
justifies that this spring is artesian. To-date observations of Ranibagh spring also point toward its
artesian origin, but its feeding source is still unknown as discharge measurements are started only
after June 21, 2008. Except these two springs, all other have very erratic flow throughout the
observation period. Analyses show that the altitude of the spring did not affect the spring
discharge rate or its perennial behavior.

6. Study of ground water pollution due to industries in Tarai region of Uttarakhand state

Pulp and paper industry is one of the largest consumers of plant and water resources,
which releases huge amount of effluents. Depending upon the nature of the raw material used and
the manufacturing process adopted in pulp and paper industry, the effluent contains variety of
organics and toxic metals. These effluents after infiltration and deep percolation ultimately reach
the groundwater and become a potential threat for drinking water supply and irrigated agriculture.
Water samples procured from hand pumps withdrawing water from a depth of 20 to 25 feet
working near the polluted water stream were analyzed and it is found that the contamination has
reached up to a considerable distance from the stream. Situation is worse in the populated areas
where pump density is more.