After blaze, Uttarakhand may face a water crisis

DEHRADUN: After glaciers, scientists are now apprehensive that the massive forest fires may deplete the groundwater table of Uttarakhand and cause severe water crisis in the hill state.

People in the hills mostly rely on natural water sources, like streams and small ponds, for their daily needs.

The scientists say that this time the fires have burnt vast swathes of green cover, like bushes and plants, which absorb and hold the water and replenish the ground water. But now, the water will just drain away. The fissures through which water percolates have been blocked with ash. As a result, the ground water will not be recharged.

Meanwhile, officials said the massive fires that destroyed a total of 3,739 hectares of forests have been brought under control. No helicopter bucket sorties were required on Wednesday. 76 of the total 90 fire incidents were under control, while the remaining would be put out soon in view of additional rain forecast and fire-fighting teams already in the field, they said.

“The entire ground vegetation consisting of grass, bushes and small plants, have been charred to ashes. This vegetation play pivotal role in holding up the waterand its leakage through their roots to the ground. But now, with this cover gone, the water would just drain away and not replenish the ground water,” said Ganesh Badthwal, scientist with Central Groundwater Board.

He said that all the water sources in the hills are replenished by the rainfall. The water normally percolates down in the ground or rocks through cracks or fissures. “However, after the fire, these cracks are blocked with thick deposition of ash. Now, the water will not seep down and flow away. So the ground water or water sources would not get the rain water,” Badthwal said.