Why small check dams and water harvesting against major dams?
Principally, I agree that our ultimate goal is to harvest, store and conserve rain water as much as possible and by as much means as possible as per the local factors. So I am not against major dams because they serve other purposes also like electricity and biodiversity. Similarly, interlinking of rivers may be undertaken considering the cost benefits and dire need of the area. Check dams or water harvesting structures are preferred as they are low cost, no need of acquision of agricultural or other land, no disputes, no migration, no rehabilitation, storage at multiple levels, covering river side area for irrigation with or without canals, increase water table in wide areas every time it is filled up, easy desilting whenever required, almost no or minimum maintenance cost and in real sense decentralised control, against all reverse factors for major dams. Ultimate message is to conserve and manage water at every level. Considering water as my life mission I remember Robert Frost’s po
