NATURE-BASED

SOLUTIONS FOR
WATER IN THE
PERI-URBAN
CASE STUDY BRIEF: INDIA, BIHAR
ABSTRACT PURPOSE OF THE CASE STUDY
This case study pertains to the recently adopted This case study sought to assess the sustainabil-
NBS, Jal-Jivan-Hariyali (Water-Life-Greenery) Mis- ity of the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali (JJH) Mission along
sion. Also referred to here as JJH, in the eastern environmental, social and economic dimensions.
state of Bihar, India. This mission is a multi-stake- ‘Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali’ stands for Water-Life-Greenery,
holder program under the state’s Rural Development and hence represents an integrated approach to
Department. Initiated in 2019, the JJH Mission water management. This mission is being imple-
involves NBS projects that have “green” technol- mented since October 2019 across physical and
ogy-based and/or traditional knowledge-based socio-economic diversities of Bihar state. Bihar
components. Presently under the administrative has an agro-based economy dependent on errat-
control, this mission foresees gradual transfer of ic monsoon rains, its 18 river basins and its huge
ownership to local communities through training reservoirs of groundwater. Its peri-urban population
and participation programs. These projects are is dominated by pervasive social stratifications that
in various stages of implementation at communi- influence, to a great extent, its economic activities.
ty-level in peri-urban and surrounding rural areas, Within such environmental, social and economic
highlighting the requirement of integrated approach diversities, targets sought by stakeholders, the
for sustainable water solutions with the objective of existing barriers, results and scope of the innovative
climate sustenance. For assessment of the Mis- approaches implemented under JJH Mission were
sion, literature survey and field visits with interviews examined. This assessment covered all three parts
were done. The mission’s projects are aimed at of the NATWIP framework – Context, Process and
enhancing sustained access to clean water for Results.
direct and indirect human consumption as well as
minimising geogenic contaminants of underground AREA CHARACTERISATION
water resources. From local to regional scales,
these initiatives assist, health, welfare, agriculture
and allied economic activities. Modes of project Country India
implementation reveal gradual increase of commu- Province State of Bihar
nity participation, with special emphasis on women GPS coordinates between latitudes 24°20’10”N
and 27°31’15”N and longitudes
empowerment, as evinced from their involvement in
83°19’50”E and 88°17’40”E
awareness and decision-making, implementation,
and execution of small-scale business plans.

Pond constructed in a peri-urban locality to conserve rainwater

PHYSICAL CONTEXT

Local geography/ Bihar is the second most populated state of India. Its economy is totally
topography agro-based. The state is located in the alluvial floodplains of Himalayan
and Peninsular rivers. It has 19 river basins and ground water resourc-
es extending up to 3 aquifers layers. A number of water bodies and
trenches, constituting “Ahars” and “Pynes” respectively dot the urban
and peri-urban areas. These have traditionally served to meet the general
requirement of water in the dry season. Since the decades of the 60s,
groundwater began to be used for drinking and cooking purpose. With
the tapping of these aquifers under minor bore well irrigation policy, the
older surface rain water storages fell into disrepair and disuse. Changing
rainfall regime however, have now impacted surface flows of the sea-
sonal streams. The aquifers, overlying the southern peninsular rocks are
mostly shallow and have spatial variationsThe situation is worse in the
peri-urban areas, where ahars- pynes, ponds (Pokhars) and wells have
been encroached upon by the unplanned spread of habitations

Main water Rivers Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Sone, Punpun, Chanan are major water
courses courses with several other perennial and seasonal tributaries.

Main soil types Largely clayey soils with patches of sandy loam in north, and stony
stretches in the south with intervening laterite patches.

Precipitation The climate is of monsoon type, with an annual average rainfall of

(monthly averages 1,205 mm. Average number of rainy days is 52.5. Bihar gets more
as well as climate than 85% of its annual rainfall in the southwest monsoon season.
change projections) The highest rainfall (33% of southwest monsoon rainfall) is received
in July followed by August (28% of the southwest monsoon rainfall).
The southwest monsoon season rainfall shows a significant decreas-
ing trend, whereas monthly rainfall and annual rainfall do not show
any significant increasing/ decreasing trend.
On the whole, observed and projected climate change impacts in-
clude drought due to reduced rainfall in certain areas and flood due
to heavy rainfall in others.

Critical Urban centres are bifurcated into municipal wards, but the peri-ur-
infrastructure ban areas are bereft of the facilities of urban wards. Transportation
networks are developed, with the east-west broad gauge railway route
crossing the state. It is served by major National Highways, along
with state highways.

Other relevant The present year is witnessing complete dried up river beds even in
physical factors the monsoon season, particularly in south Bihar due to high rainfall
deficiency in the southern catchment areas.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Population The total population of the state is estimated to be 128.3 million by

2022, with a population density of 1307 /Km2. The urban population
constitutes just over 11.29% of the total population.

GPD/capita Bihar’s per capita GDP in 2020 was INR 50 555 (approx. 676 USD).

Economic status All the 3 income groups- high (e.g., landlords, businessmen), middle
(i.e. low income, (e.g., Services) and low (e.g., daily wage labor) are represented, the
high income) latter mostly inhabiting the urban periphery. Sources of income are
commercial, agricultural and transportation activities. Agriculture
contributes to the largest labour force by occupation.

Other relevant socio- Bihars ‘s district headquarters form “break-o’-bulk” cities. Two occu-
economic factors: pations prominently thrive – agricultural marketing, and commercial
activities. Bihar is a leading state in agricultural production based on
organic farming and water conservation initiatives. Current state’s
rural policies have developed linkages between agrarian production,
water management based on the local milieu, and capital generation.

However, social stratification in terms of class and caste lines are

ingrained in the thought processes of the inhabitants, so as to impact,
to a great measure, the outcomes of proactive policy measures of the
government.

OBJECTIVE OF THE NBS POLICY AND GOVERNANCE

CONTEXT
The NBS Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali (Water-Life-Greenery)
Mission addresses both water quality and quantity JJH Mission is under implementation in Peri-ur-
(shortage and excess) challenges. The Objectives ban and rural areas of the State of Bihar, India.
of this State-driven Mission are: Launched in October 2019, this NBS Mission
strives for retrieval of Man-Nature Synergy in
• To ensure sustained access to clean water peri-urban as well as rural areas. It connects
• To address uncertainty of rainfall, deepening closely to the National Water Policy 2012 which
of ground water, frequent natural disasters envisages a common integrated perspective in
(floods and drought) planning, management and use of water resourc-
es, having an environmentally sound basis, while
• To mitigate pollution and contamination of wa-
keeping in view the human, social and economic
ter resources, and water management issues
needs. The policy recognizes safe water for drink-
arising from lack of inter-sectoral coordination
ing and sanitation as pre-emptive needs, while
• To promote mass adoption of NBS schemes
considering its importance in achieving food secu-
as a green alternative to unsuitable techno-
rity, supporting livelihood, and ensuring equitable
logical interventions
and sustainable development for all. Simultane-
ously, it acknowledges importance of water for between policy planners and the beneficiaries; and,
sustenance of eco-system. The JJH Mission also (iii) community members who, being beneficiaries,
aligns closely with other national level initiatives in are trained in maintenance and monitoring of mis-
the country, such as the National Water Mission’s sion projects, and involved in executing business
campaign called “Catch the Rain” which focuses plans for sustainability of such projects.
on creation of Rain Water Harvesting Structures
suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil ACTIONS
strata, with people’s active participation to ensure
storage of rainwater. Actions envisioned and/or undertaken:
Environmental
The main implementation responsibility lies at • Identification and mapping of old water bod-
the district level and the local level and the finan- ies and ponds
cial responsibility with the state government. The • Renovation and rejuvenation of water bodies
stakeholders involved are: (i) 12 Governmental • Desilting of ponds
departments, important being Water Resources, • Tree plantation
Public Health Engineering Department, Agricul-
• Restoration and sustainable management of
ture, Fisheries, Minor Irrigation, which are respon-
water bodies
sible for planning, implementation and monitoring
• Adopting traditional water harvesting methods
work; (ii) the NGOs which are the intermediaries

Soil conservation through plantation initiatives in the peri-urban, for water retention in dry season
Social • Problem of heat wave has reduced due to in-
• Engaging communities through rural em- crease in moisture levels of air at ground level
ployment programs and in decision-making Economic
process • Increase in total irrigated area is leading to
• Involvement of women specially in plantation increased agricultural production
• Participation of local stakeholders in plan- • Increased productivity is resulting in higher
ning and implementation income generation among farmers
• Involvement of Panchayats (local village-lev- • Projects under JJH Mission is actively con-
el government machinery) tributing to Peri-urban income
• Social Audit Mechanism so that people can
voice their grievances also give suggestion SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Awareness campaign GOALS AND/OR ANY OTHER
Economic WATER-RELATED DEVELOPMENT
• Financial investment primarily from the State GOALS ADDRESSED
government, though local participation is
being encouraged in a big way The NBS JJH Mission in Bihar addresses a num-
ber of important SDGS. First and foremost, SDG 6
(clean water and sanitation), mainly addressing (in
POTENTIAL (OR ACHIEVED)
order of priority) Target 6.5 (strengthening integrat-
IMPACTS AND BENEFITS
ed water resources management through a state-
Though the NBS has been under implementation for wide ecosystem-based approach); Target 6.6 (pro-
only 2 years, some positive impact is already being tect and restore water-related ecosystems through
observed. These and other anticipated impacts are actions connecting water-greenery-life); Target
as follows: 6.1 (facilitating equitable access to safe drinking
water through rejuvenated drinking water sourc-
Social:
es); and Target 6.4 (by contributing to sustainable
• Strengthening of community engagement
withdrawals of freshwater to address water scarci-
and involvement is being achieved
ty). Second, it addresses SDG 13 (climate action),
• Increased participation of community in deci-
particularly Target 13.1 by strengthening resilience
sion-making processes
and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards
• Increase in community ownership of commu- and natural disasters through integrated action as
nity assets
described above. Third, SDG 11 (sustainable cities
• Out-migration has decreased leading to and communities), particularly Target 11.7 (by sup-
domestic stability with increasing economic porting access to green and public spaces in the
diversifications and employment opportu-
peri-urban areas through afforestation). Fourth, also
nities, dependency on agriculture alone has
addressed are SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing)
decreased.
by promoting healthier lives and well-being for local
Environmental
residents through increased and improved access
• Ecosystems are being restored
to safe water and greenery; SDG 5 (gender equality)
• Increased surface water resources and soil by ensuring women’s full and effective participation
moisture content are being observed
in community-level activities under the JJH Mission;
• There is a visible shift from mono- to and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions)
multi-cropping agriculture
by promoting inclusive societies for sustainable
• Plantation activities have begun to minimize development through community participation in
soil erosion environmental restoration and rejuvenation.
 A renovated water channel (called ‘pyne’), supplying irrigation water to agricultural fields in a peri-urban locality

LESSONS LEARNT relevant context-specific technologies. Third, rain-

water harvesting and collection of local runoff is
Key factors contributing to the emerging success an important NBS principle with immense potential
of the JJH Mission are: to fulfil the water needs of urban and peri-urban
• A collective governmental approach towards spaces around. Fourth, engaging local communi-
adoption of proactive nature-based initia- ties, including women in NBS implementation can
tives for sustained local development help in sustainable solutions.
• Synergy established between the major play-
ers of this mission- Policy planners, interme- TRANSFERABILITY OF RESULTS
diaries, Implementers who also constitute
The JJH Mission can be used elsewhere through
the beneficiaries
upscaling. However, as physical and human diver-
• Recognition of traditional environmental con-
sities exist, appropriate responses from such NBS
servation methods that are ingrained in the
initiatives may require technological innovations
region’s culture and revival of the same with
as also suitable alterations in traditional practices
suitable technological interventions
sought to be revived.
From this case study, the first lesson to emerge is
that in order to sustainably address water-related
challenges, it is useful to adopt an integrated ap- CONTACT INFORMATION
proach that connects blue and green environmen-
Dr. Nupur Bose – [email protected]
tal dimensions together with people. Second, it is
Dr. Ratna Amrit – [email protected]
also important to consider and include the local
Dr. Nandita Singh – [email protected]
knowledge base existing in the society regarding
WHAT IS NATWIP?
NATWiP is an acronym for a project entitled: Nature-Based Solutions
for Water Management in the Peri‐Urban: Linking Ecological, Social
and Economic Dimensions.

This is an EU-Cooperation project funded under the Water Joint

Programming Initiative (JPI) Call 2018 and is led by an international
consortium of scientists. The NATWiP team works towards promoting
sustainable implementation of nature-based solutions to address
water challenges in peri-urban areas.

EDITORS

Amy Oen
RiSC, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway
Sarah Hale
Sustainable Geosolutions, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway

AUTHORS

Nupur Bose
A.N. College, Patliputra University, Patna, India
Ratna Amrit
A.N. College, Patliputra University, Patna, India
Nandita Singh
Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden

The authors would like to thank the European Commission and the Swedish Research
Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS), Water Research Commission (WRC) in
South Africa, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness – through the State
Research Agency (MINECO–AEI) in Spain & the Research Council of Norway (RCN) for
funding in the frame of the collaborative international consortium NATWIP financed
under the 2018 Joint Call of the WaterWorks2017 ERA-NET Cofund. This ERA-NET is an
integral part of the activities developed by the Water JPI.

© NATWiP 2022

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7825238

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modifications, publications or public displays of this work or any of its contents are authorized.

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