NEED

The decline in physical status and also management of tank systems has not only affected the agriculture and economy, even the quality of environment has deteriorated with macro level adverse impact on ecology. Rejuvenation of such tank systems is not only to supplement water needs but as sustainable ecosystems, through transferring the management to communities. In the process of rejuvenation, there is a need for maximizing opportunities to enhance positive environmental impacts as well as for in-building adequate safeguards to protect the environment in all key activities of JSYS. Hence, a clear policy on environment management is visualized with the following objectives.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the institutional and process measures for developing and maintaining tank ecosystems on sustainable basis.

To outline the strategies for enhancing positive environmental impact and ensure environmental safeguards of the interventions that would be planned for rejuvenation of tanks.

VISION & POLICY

In order to address environment safeguards and quality issues, JSYS will evolve institutional and process measures built into all its projects and programmes. Keeping in view the state of environment issues outlined above, it is envisaged that community-based approaches will be promoted for the rejuvenation and management of tank ecosystems. The Institutional and process measures envisaged will ensure positive environmental impacts of all interventions of JSYS. Specific policy measures for the key environmental issues identified are outlined below.

OVERALL TANK SYSTEM

The Tank as a System
Wherever possible the Tank system will be considered in its entirety – including the catchment, tank and associated structures, command area, multiple uses, etc. Appropriate institutional linkages and coordination will be undertaken with activities within JSYS and with other agencies that could impact on the tank system. Where possible for cascades of tanks, an attempt would be made to move to consider the appropriate basin level to maximize synergy of investments. Upstream consultation with all key stakeholders (including various tank users, including women and vulnerable groups) will be held to develop and implement an integrated development and management plan for the tank systems.

Building Knowledge Base and Environmental Awareness
The knowledge on tank ecosystems, soils, vegetation and bio-diversity and sustainable methods will be inculcated at community level decision making mechanisms. Emphasis is laid on experimental learning and demonstrations to inculcate sustainable eco practices and systems.

Natural Habitats
Measures are inbuilt into all the projects of JSYS to ensure no adverse impacts on natural habitats, parks or wild life sanctuaries, though the tank systems are generally geographically located in dry zones of the state, where no natural habitats are in existence. A ‘Negative List’ criteria is used to exclude any tank activities that could be potentially harmful for any important eco-systems. Measures will be encouraged to enhance natural habitats – e.g. through appropriate vegetative development programmes.

Bio-diversity
A forestation will be a key eco-development activity in restoring tank eco-systems. JSYS ensures appropriate measures to promote diverse indigenous species and discourage the use of exotic species. This will be inbuilt into all the foreshore plantations, Silvi – pastures programmes likely to be planned in tank system projects. Fisheries would be another important potential programme in the tank system, in which only suitable species will be adopted, to save the indigenous varieties and aquatic life in the tanks.To outline the strategies for enhancing positive environmental impact and ensure environmental safeguards of the interventions that would be planned for rejuvenation of tanks.

Water Quality and Public Health
Tank system uses will be documented in the initial assessment survey and followed by a detailed survey to enhance measures for associated public health improvements. In tanks which are used directly for potable water and where they recharge the near by drinking water source, water quality sampling would be carried out and the results disseminated to local community, to initiate
corrective measures. In addition proactive IPM, INM, composting, Green manuring, organic farming will promote reduction of chemical inputs. Any composting and sewage pollution will be mitigated by proper awareness to the local communities to clear the sources of non-point contamination.

Catchment Area Management
Key focus will be given to catchment area management in the perspective plans developed for individual tanks. Project activities to be included in the JSYS executed projects include treatment of feeder channels up to 500 mts from of the tank where erosion is likely to be greatest. The JSYS will also encourage watershed development department, forest, horticulture, agriculture and environment departments to undertake activities for sustainable management of tank catchments. In case of cascades of tanks, the appropriate sub basin will be used as a frame work to co-ordinate interventions to ensure the grater synergy and internalization of externalities.

TANK BED AND STRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

Silt Accumulation and Disposal
Sustainable catchment area management will be ensured through co-ordinated efforts of departments and local community in the tank catchments to reduce erosion and further siltation. Emphasis is given for desiltation of tank beds by following a scientific approach based on topographic, hydrology, engineering and fisheries surveys and consultations carried out during preparation of plans for individual tank system. The silt is examined for potential uses during the initial screening process. Measures will be initiated to ensure that silt is disposed of in a scientific manner without having adverse impact on surfaces water bodies, canals, water and soil quality in the tank areas and also where it could possibly have positive environmental impacts.

Dead storage management
Appropriate well-defined dead storage area is created. This would improve the perenniality of the tank water availability to the community, fisheries, livestock and long term drought management.

Tank Bund, Sluice, Waste weir
The tank bunds of individual tanks will be screened during the initial stages. Appropriate strengthening measures will be initiated with activities such as resetting the revetments, strengthening embankments, providing turfing etc, within the parameters of dam safety adopted by DWR (MI). The sluices and waste weirs will be rehabilitated and modernized as required to ensure the tank safety and minimize the wastage of water.

Encroachments of tank water spread areas and other structures
Steps are initiated to clear the encroachments of tank systems and restore the tank areas. Other than the tank bed, other encroachments on tank bunds, draft channels, irrigation canals will also be identified and cleared within the framework of existing laws of the state governing such matters. Appropriate economic rehabilitation will be ensured for affected persons, as defined in the R&R policy of Government of Karnataka developed for tank systems. Vegetative and other measures to reduce potential encroachments will also be considered.

Cultural property issues
During the preparation of development plans for individual tank systems, screening will be done to assess any adverse impacts on any cultural properties within the tank system. Based on the assessment appropriate mitigation and rehabilitation measures will be initiated with the local community to restore the properties. These mitigation measures would avoid adverse affects and wherever the technical interventions are essential to the tank bund, bed etc.; temporary effects may occur to small shrines on the bunds. In such situations, restoration of such shines will be done after the technical interventions and in consultation with the community.

COMMAND AREA MANAGEMENT

Main and field irrigation canals
Comprehensive management plans will be prepared with the local community for efficient management of command areas. The main and field canals will be screened and key rehabilitation activities will be carried out to make canals functional which contribute to enhancing water use efficiency. This would avoid the problems of water logging and consequent growth of problematic soils and loss of nutrients. Sustained commitment of the community for regular maintenance would be key requisite for financing such interventions from JSYS projects. Civil works would be initiated after adequate community consultation and with adequate measures to handle environmental safeguards during construction.

Pesticide & Fertilizer use
Integrated pest and nutrient management practices will be promoted in the tank systems. The tank system rejuvenation and related agriculture extension activities may induce more usage of chemicals. It will be integral to all projects to ensure the promotion of low external input sustainable crop management practices with due attention to IPM and INM principles. Appropriate demonstrations, training and awareness activities will be organized by networking with Line Departments, Universities and Research stations. Appropriate INM measures such as bio-composting and vermicomposting could also have positive impacts on the village environment and waste management.

Soil biota, declined fertility and induced chemicals use
The use of organic and green leaf manures, INM and IPM and other sustainable farming practices will be promoted as part of comprehensive command area management plan for individual tank systems. The Agriculture extension / diversification services would focus on demonstrations, trainings, exposures in order to prepare community for sustainable agriculture practices, JSYS would wherever necessary, network with relevant departments and agencies and successful farmers / practitioners.

Extraction of Ground water
The tank system restoration combined with efficient management by the community would increase the dependability on tank water for irrigation and also the visualized desiltation and dead storage creation would recharge the depleted ground water levels. However, JSYS will focus on promoting conjunctive water use among command area farmers through demonstrations and trainings
so that excessive exploitation of ground water sources would be minimized. Further better water management systems will be promoted through the local community which ensures water availability in the tank for longer periods and also equitable distribution of water to all parts of the command area.

OPERATIONAL POLICY

• JSYS will Integrate Environmental Safeguards into all its community based tank projects incorporating the key issues and measures discussed above. Ensuring environmental safeguards and enhancing environmental opportunities would form an integral part of its community based management approaches and in individual tank management and development plans in order to rejuvenate sustainable tank eco-systems. As envisaged in the Government of Karnataka vision these approaches will be mainstreamed into all the tank projects of the State. JSYS will formulate policies and operational strategies consistent with this policy and strive to integrate these principles into any new legislative framework the Government of Karnataka may bring in the future for sustainable management of tank ecosystems.

• A detailed screening procedure would be adopted at individual tank and sub basin level to assess the environmental safeguards to be inbuilt into any tank system rehabilitation projects, and these will form an integral part of individual tank management plans.

• JSYS will equip its lower level implementation wings with adequate support on environmental safeguard issues and strategies for enhancing environmental quality and sustainability, so that these wings could effectively support the communities in regenerating sustainable tank eco-systems. The key focus of JSYS will be on equipping tank communities in terms of attitude, knowledge, skills to regenerate and manage sustainable tank eco-systems. JSYS would also strive to network with other related departments, projects, agencies, NGOs, university and research stations in order to bring in a consortium approach to deal with complex tank eco-systems.

• JSYS will develop appraisal mechanisms at state, district and taluk levels which could play a key role in screening the tank interventions for environmental safeguards and also support tank communities with adequate knowledge, skills and services in regenerating and managing the tank eco-systems. JSYS will include appropriate environmental clauses (e.g. on silt disposal) in contractor contracts.

• JSYS would adopt a programme of incentives at various levels built into the respective projects to recognize and motivate individuals and tank management institutions at community level on environmental achievements. Key parameters would be developed to identify such best practices, approaches, achievements at various levels in developing sustainable tank eco-systems.

• Through appropriate provisions in the projects, efforts would be made to involve schools and other institutions functioning at village level to regularly monitor the environment quality and support community apart from equipping children as next generation managers of tank eco-systems. JSYS would support tank management institutions to maintain bio-diversity registers at village level and regular monitoring of flora and fauna involving school children and all sections of the community.

• JSYS would continue to strive for continual innovation and demonstration of commitment in incorporating environmental opportunities and safeguards in all its activities.