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Nature-Based Solutions For Water in The Peri-Urban: Case Study Brief - Bihar, India
Nature-Based Solutions For Water in The Peri-Urban: Case Study Brief - Bihar, India
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Any reproductions,
modifications, publications or public displays of this work or any of its contents are authorized.
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