Economic Profile of Uttaranchal

Author(s): Sridhar Krishna

Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 37, No. 19 (May 11-17, 2002), pp. 1843-1849
Published by: Economic and Political Weekly
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 Economic Profile of Uttaranchal
The first states reorganisation commission had turned down the proposal for the
creation of Uttaranchal on the grounds that it was not economically viable. The backward,
agrarian character of the state, with fragmented and uneconomical landholdings,
would seem to bear out this conclusion. However, with stress on diversification from
agriculture to horticulture, investment in irrigation, infrastructure and promotion
of tourism, Uttaranchal can be made viable.

SRIDHAR KRISHNA

ttaranchal (the region known as lower than in other districts (Table 2). Sex horticulture, namely, fruits, cut flowers,
Uttarakhand prior to statehood) is ratio, defined as number of females/1,000
mushrooms and off-season vegetables,
composed of 13 districts. Origi- males, is more than 1,000 for Almora, including potatoes. This, however, needs
nally, as the hill region of Uttar Pradesh, it Chamoli, Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal. infrastructural support in the form of
comprised eight districts, namely, Almora, Except for Dehradun, Haridwar and soil and water conservation measures,
Pithoragarh and Nainital falling under the Nainital, the remaining districts are pre-irrigation facilities, credit and marketing
Kumaon division, and Chamoli, Dehradun, dominantly rural with less than 10 per centsupport and the development of trans-
Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal and urbanisation; the figure for Garhwal isport and communications [Shah 1997: 6;
Uttarkashi falling under the Garhwal di- marginally higher at 11.89 per cent, inBora 2000:297]. However, by and large
vision. Between 1996 and 1998 these eight 1991. The density in the predominantly these measures have not been imple-
districts were reorganised to create four mented due to lack of institutional
rural districts was also relatively low, at
more districts, namely, Udham Singh 29 persons per sq km in Uttarkashi. Den-support, scarce local capital and chron
Nagar, Champavat and Bageshwar sity
in in Haridwar was the highest with 476
backwardness.
Kumaon division, and Rudraprayag in
persons per sq km in 1991 (Table 3). In subsistence farming in Uttaranchal
Garhwal division. When Uttaranchal was With the exception of Haridwar, Tehrithere are no savings and therefore no capital
formed, Haridwar district was added [Bora
Garhwal and Uttarkashi, the total literacy
formation takes place. There is also no will
2000: 307]. rates are above the all-India level. How- to save and invest.
ever, female literacy rates are low and whatRegeneration of forests, afforestation of
Demographic Characteristics
is called for is an education guarantee
wastelands and marginal lands and develop-
scheme of the Madhya Pradesh variety, ment of farm forestry and agroforestry is
Nainital district had the highest popu-which is however oriented towards women called for. The task of regeneration of
lation in Uttarakhand. In 1991 it had a (Table 4). forests could be entrusted to forest protec-
population of 15.4 lakh. Uttarkashi was tion committees as in the case of West
the least populated district at 2.4 lakh in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Bengal [Shah 1997: 13-14].
1991. Women outnumbered men in Agriculture in terms of net area sown
Almora, Chamoli, Garhwal and Tehri Uttaranchal has a sparse population, occupied only 12.4 per cent of the reported
Garhwal (Table 1). The compound annualpredominantly primary economic activi- area in 1993-94, but gave employment to
rate of growth (CARG) of population inties, outmigration to the plains to bridge nearly 80 per cent of the people in rural
Garhwal fell from 1.44 per cent in thehousehold deficits, inadequate infra- areas, though there is disguised unemploy-
1970s to 0.68 per cent in the 1980s. Instructural facilities and lack of a secondary ment on a large scale (Table 5). Crop
Pithoragarh CARG declined from 4.54 per and tertiary sector. production is the main activity and a tra-
cent to 1.47 per cent during the same In the terai region there are small and ditional cropping pattern of three crops in
period. In Tehri Garhwal CARG declined medium-sized industries. The low hills, two years, that is paddy/madira - wheat-
from 2.28 per cent to 1.54 per cent. Inwith an altitude between 600 and 1,000 Mandua (ragi)-fallow is practised. On
Uttarkashi CARG declined from 2.59 per metres, are suitable for growing tropical account of the small size of holdings and
cent to 2.30 per cent. Even in Nainitalfruits. The high-yielding varieties pro- near-total dependence on rainfall, yields
district, CARG declined from 3.70 pergramme has been successful in the irri- are low. The average size of holding varied
cent in the 1970s to 3.09 per cent in thegated valleys but the green revolution has from 0.54 hectare (ha) in 1990 in
1980s. This decline in CARG could per-not touched other hill zones. The green Pithoragarh to 1.67 ha in Nainital (Table 4).
haps be explained by outmigration. Therevolution involved a seed technology that The yields of important crops in 1993-94
higher CARG for Nainital than for otherwas not suitable for hill areas, where are given in Table 6.
districts is perhaps due to migration into
horticulture development rather than crop Apart from crop production there is great
Nainital district. Almora, however, is an production can usher in economic devel-scope for increasing farm income through
exception with CARG actually increasing opment [Shah 1997: 6]. livestock or dairy development. Livestock
in the 1980s compared with the 1970s, The climatic conditions strongly favourprovides 20-40 per cent of farm income
though the figures of CARG are much diversification from agriculture into[Shah 1997:17-18]. But the availability of

Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002 1843

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fodder particularly in the summer and Fodder constitutes 70 per cent of theperhaps be solved through the formation
winter months is the biggest constraint to expenses of livestock production. The milk
of cooperatives. As such, fruit trees remain
livestock development. yield of buffaloes could be increased byconfined to homesteads ('gharbaras')
Uttaranchal has a unique locational and improving the nutritional level of fodder
[Bisht 1997: 247]. Part of the community
climatic advantage in the pursuit of horti- and this could be realised through farmland could be converted to community
culture. Off-season vegetables and pota- forestry and social forestry. orchards as has been done in Salla Routela
toes have a seasonal advantage as they are The present trends are of ecological village [Bisht 1997:256].
produced and disposed of before the pro- degradation, such as soil loss, deforesta- Keeping in mind micro-level village
duce of the plains comes to the market. tion, drying up of springs of water bodies,studies, all livestock production centres
The main fruit is apple but it is suffering around cultivators to whom livestock rais-
increasingly acid soils, decreasing resource
from problems of disease. Citrus, mango productivity and resultant desertificationing is an integral component of crop pro-
and pear are the most important fruits from [Shah 1997:76]. The 'van' panchayat is an duction. The majority of the livestock of
the standpoint of exports, but availability ancient institution in Uttaranchal for forest the region is composed of cattle and buffalo.
of pedigree plants is a problem. management. The scope of van panchayats Goat and poultry are the other livestock.
Government agencies exist but there is needs to be increased to include grazing The bulk of the cattle is raised primarily
lack of managerial involvement in can- and pasture lands. The experience of the for draught purposes. Buffalo husbandry
ning, marketing and despatching. The Khulgad micro-watershed in institution- is very popular and has a wide scope in
people are poor. They have smallholdings alising people's participation through the
and live from day to day. Most of the fruit formation of village resource management Table 1: District-Level Population
trees come to fruition at between 8 and 10 committee (gram sansadhan prabandh (Lakh): 1991
years. Peak production is obtained in 16- samiti) should be replicated as it has beenDistrict Total Male Female
20 years. Some investments are needed successful in ensuring sustainable develop-
Almora 8.37 4.01 4.36
every year. Further, orchards require con- ment and equitable distribution of fodderChamoli 4.55 2.27 2.28
solidated holdings, while the existing [Shah 1997]. Even for nursery raising forDehradun 10.26 5.56 4.69
holdings are small [Shah 1997:22]. Post- fruit- yielding trees the van panchayats areGarhwal 6.83 3.31 3.51
Haridwar 11.24 6.09 5.15
harvest technology is not available, for the best instruments [Agarwal 1999:2781 ].Nainital 15.40 8.24 7.16
grading, storage, packaging, transporta- Van panchayats are formed only on rev- Pithoragarh 5.66 2.85 2.81
tion and processing. enue forests, that is, on civil soyam forests
Tehri Garhwal 5.80 2.82 2.98

Gross irrigated area as a percentage of and reserve forests are outside their scope. Uttarkashi 2.40 1.25 1.15
grass-cropped area is large in Dehradun, What is required is a people-orientedSource: Centre for Monitor
Haridwar and Nainital but in other districts forest policy which gives the right to India's Social Sectors, F
it is relatively low. In Chamoli, for in- people over the use of forests for meeting
stance this figure was as low as 7.32 per their needs of fuel and fodder. It is often Table 2: Growth Rate and Sex Ratio
cent in 1995 (Table 4). the case that for the villagers there is District
a Growth Rate Sex Ratio
Farmers do not make any investments shortage of wood even for funeral pyres CARG (Per Cent) (Female/1,00
in crop production such as use of high [Pathak 1997:911]. Management of for- 1971-81 1981-91 1991

yielding variety seeds, fertilisers, insecti- ests, which is a British legacy in Tehri Almora 0.10 1.00 1086
cides and pesticides. Garhwal and Kumaon continues till date Chamoli 2.22 2.24 1002
Horticulture earns far more income than [Guha 1985: 1941]. Dehradun 2.81 3.02 843
Garhwal 1.44 0.68 1059
crop production. Micro-level village stud- Off-season vegetables like tomato, beans,Haridwar 846
ies have shown that Gola pear, citrus, walnut peas, capsicum, cabbage, cauliflower and Nainital 3.70 3.09 869
and almond are the main fruits with great potatoes hold great promise. The con- Pithoragarh 4.54 1.47 985
Tehri Garhwal 2.28 1.54 1057
potential. During the rainy season lemon straints, however, are timely availability of
Uttarkashi 2.59 2.30 918
'big', lemon 'kagzi', malta and orange are seed, seedlings and disease control. If the
the best species in terms of their survival vegetable seeds and seedlings are made Source: Centre for Monitorin
India's Social Sectors, Feb
rate. And in winter, pear, plum, walnut, available well in time by the district horti-
apricot, almond, pecan nut and apple are culture officer through the mobile team, Table 3: District-Level Urbanisation
the most promising species in terms of off-season vegetable production can see a and Density
their survival [Shah 1997:69]. Constraints sustained increase [Shah 1997b : 276].
Due to the basic and immediate need for District Urbanisation Density
in developing fruit production include lack
(Percentage) (Persons/sq km)
of availability of quality plants, lack of survival the farmers do not evince interest 1991 1991

disease and pest control measures, lack of in horticultural activities even if it means
Almora 6.40 155
marketing infrastructure, and lack of labour a higher stream of income. The higher Chamoli 8.91 49
because crop harvesting, fruit harvesting initial investment and non-availability of Dehradun 50.26 332
and grass-cutting activities coincide, re- suitable technical information are some of Garhwal 11.89 125
Haridwar 30.96 476
sulting in labour scarcity. A horticulturists the other hurdles in the adoption of or- Nainital 32.66 226
association should be formed to meet the chards [Bisht 1997:247]. What is called Pithoragarh 7.44 63
needs of the horticulturists for nursery for is extension service that would make Tehri Garhwal 5.67 131

development, quality control in plants,available the requisite technical informa-Uttarkashi 7.20 29

disease control, processing and marketing tion. The problem of higher initial invest-Source: Centre for Mo
of fruits. ment in the adoption of orchards could India's Social Sectors

1844 Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002

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the region. Buffalo thrives better than cattle State Income fertilisers while cowdung is cheap and
on coarse fodder and is thus suitable for easily available. Bhimal is the most come
mon, nutritious and useful fodder tree that
the hill region, which suffers from scarcity In spite of the advances made in the use
of good fodder. Under the Integrated Ruralof chemical fertilisers, droppings from grows well in risers of agricultural fields
Development Programme (IRDP), thelivestock are the main source of manure and needs to be further propagated [Rawat
villagers are taking active interest in rear- for the soil. Due to lack of resources, the 1997:310]. Livestock is maintained in
ing buffaloes. villagers of this region cannot afford unhygienic conditions for want of water.

Table 4: District Profile

Almora Chamoli Dehradun

Particulars Unit 1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995

Literacy per cent 58.66 62.08 69.50

Female literacy per cent 39.60 40.37 59.26

Agriculture
Average landholding hectares (Ha) 0.62 0.87 0.97
Gross irrigated area per cent of GCA 12.50 11.89 7.80 7.32 37.41 42.71

Energy and infrastructure

Villages electrified per cent of villages 70.09 82.57 65.77 75.78 90.31 99.06
Post office per lakh pop 53.12 132.78 74.18 69.60 24.11 21.64
Telephone connections per 100 persons 0.12 0.11 0.95

Health
Hospital and dispensary beds per lakh pop 123.02 120.03 115.98 107.83 165.83 166.70

Education
Primary schools per lakh pop 180.24 181.72 193.53 205.60 92.71 86.47
Middle/higher schools per lakh pop 29.46 28.83 41.36 45.46 21.19 22.59
Garhwal Haridwar Nainital
1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995

Literacy per cent 63.55 48.35 56.52

Female literacy per cent 49.55 34.93 43.19

Agriculture
Average landholding hectares (Ha) 1.28 1.24 1.67
Gross irrigated area per cent of GCA 10.32 12.32 63.17 71.84 68.09 79.10

Energy and infrastructure

Villages electrified per cent of villages 50.14 94.57 91.38
Post office per lakh pop 62.10 61.75 9.46 18.67 9.66
Telephone connections per 100 persons 0.19 0.44

Health
Hospital and dispensary beds per lakh pop 138.80 143.88 69.88 119.87 103.09

Education
Primary schools per lakh pop 202.53 227.59 54.35 91.09 91.48
Middle/higher schools per lakh pop 36.73 37.93 10.19 22.56 18.00
Pithoragarh Tehri Garhwal Uttarkashi
1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995 1990 1991 1995

Literacy per cent 59.01 48.38 47.23

Female literacy per cent 38.37 26.41 23.57

Agriculture
Average landholding hectares (Ha) 0.54 0.84 0.98
Gross irrigated area per cent of GCA 7.99 8.24 17.03 17.47 19.81 19.70

Energy and infrastructure

Villages electrified per cent of villages 53.73 69.40 58.58 72.38 82.81 90.71
Post office per lakh pop 69.15 65.27 46.03 43.29 47.37
Telephone connections per 100 persons 0.12 0.09 0.19

Health
Hospital and dispensary beds per lakh pop 126.30 120.55 65.46 60.63 118.64 99.80

Education
Primary schools per lakh pop 186.86 184.83 182.56 184.17 199.30 194.26
Middle/higher schools per lakh pop 40.85 41.13 40.96 47.82 55.05 63.99

Source: Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, Profiles of Districts, October2000

Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002 1845

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To ensure conditions of hygiene for the government (see Section 10 (2) (d) (Drugs central government as well as a state
livestock water needs to be made avail- Act, 1985 page 14)). The state government government to pass the general or special
able. The major problem of livestock will fix the price to be paid to the culti- order.
vators in this regard (see Section 10 (2)
production is scarcity of feed. This can be As far as the export of hemp goes, the
(e) (Drugs Act, 1985, page 14)). The cul-
overcome by plantation of fodder trees and relevant provisions are covered by the
good management of grasslands with the tivation of cannabis (hemp) for the manu- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Sub-
active participation of villagers. facture of hemp cloth and ropes is more stances Rules, 1985. The narcotics com-
The increase in population has resultedappropriately covered in Section 14. The missioner can authorise the export of hemp
in the fragmentation of landholdings, state government can by a general or special or a preparation containing cannabis (hemp)
making them uneconomical. This together order allow cultivation of any cannabis in specified quantities, provided the im-
with the absence of alternative economic (hemp) plant for industrial purposes, that porting country issues an import certificate
is, for obtaining fibre. The order would
opportunities, has caused outmigration of (see Rule 53A(2) and Rule 58(1) and Rule
the male labour force to the plains. This
also specify the conditions for cultivation. 58(2)(b) Drugs Act, 1985 (pp 65, 67)).
has meant an increased burden on the See Section 14 (Drugs Act, 1985, page 15). However, hemp cloth or rope, goes out of
womenfolk, who have to manage the farms It follows then that the state government the ambit of hemp as a narcotic and can be
along with household chores. Further,wouldas have to be an intermediary between exported even without attracting the pro-
women's burden of firewood gathering the cultivator and manufacturer of hemp visions of Rule 53A(2), Rule 58(1) and
increases, agricultural productivity is af-
cloth and ropes. Section 14 uses the term Rule 58(2)(b). The manufacture and export
fected negatively, since women are also government without specifying central or of hemp cloth or rope does not undermine
de facto the main farmers. A negative state government so it is open to both the the purpose of the act. The process of
relationship between distances travelled
for firewood and the schooling of girl Table 5: Land Use and Cropping Intensity - 1993-94
(In hectares)
children in this region has been observed.
Absence of land rights for women has Reporting Forest Barren and Land Part Culturable Permanent
District Area of Land Unculturable to Non- Waste Pasture and
meant denial of credit. If women don't
Utilisation Land Agriculturable Grazing
have bullocks, farmers with bullocks may Purposes Uses Land
insist on women paying advance cash since
Chamoli 841382 521039 164882 18090 33338 21821
the latter cannot provide land as a guar-
Uttarkashi 817631 726290 20212 6921 9127 13977
antee for payment. Further, the village-
Tehri 574544 397201 12014 10824 71571 2802
Garhwal 759650 451263 34179 17465 44308 43223
level extension worker typically contacts
Dehradun 307377 211691 1658 17121 12068 81
the landowners when giving out informa-
Garhwal division 3300584 2307484 232945 70421 170412 81904
tion on new technology. Nainital 702807 403511 4608 32721 29176 1174
Almora 728701 393969 32180 17449 60163 60715

Hemp Cultivation Pithoragarh 637200 330350 26876 15705 55874 84506

Kumaon division 2068708 1127830 63664 65875 145213 146395
Uttarakhand 5369292 3435314 296609 136296 315625 228299
Hemp is cultivated in Uttaranchal in
Area under Current Other Net Area Area Sown
small quantities but hemp cloth has good
District Miscellaneous Fallow Vallow Sown More Than
prospects for export. For purposes of Shrubs, Groves, etc Once
cultivation of the cannabis (hemp) plant
Chamoli 35353 91 1613 45155 24980
the relevant law is the Narcotics Drugs and
Uttarkashi 7659 43 3885 29517 16740
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Sec- Tehri 22 55 8248 71807 39222
tion 10(l)(a)(iii) of the act invests a state
Garhwal 61464 145 17809 89794 48998
Dehradun 4312 2816 4760 52870 34836
government with the power to permit,
Garhwal division 108810 3150 36315 289143 164776
control and regulate the cultivation of any
Nainital 16701 3319 7280 204317 139784
cannabis (hemp) plant as also the produc-
Almora 46485 649 7518 109276 70811
Pithoragarh 45755 1166 13039 63929 48577
tion, manufacture, possession, transport,
Kumaon division 108941 5134 28134 377522 259172
interstate import, interstate export, sale,
Uttarakhand 217751 8284 64449 666665 423948
purchase, consumption or use of cannabis
(excluding charas) (Drugs Act, 1985, page Gross Cropped Area Area
District Prepared for Gross Cropping
13). In other words, the state government
Kharif Rabi Zayad Sugar Cane Total Intensity
can by framing rules permit the cultivation
Chamoli 45135 25000 0 0 70135 155.32
of any cannabis (hemp) plant. The culti-
Uttarkashi 29267 16990 0 0 46257 156.71
vation of the cannabis (hemp) plant, how-
Tehri 67441 43588 0 0 111029 154.62
ever, can be undertaken only with a licence
Garhwal 88628 50164 0 0 138792 154.57
issued by the state government, which
Dehradun 49300 35995 2409 2 87706 165.89
would also determine the conditions of the Garhwal division 279771 171737 2409 2 453919 156.99
Nainital 186040 149892 8065 104 344101 168.42
licence (see Section 10 (2) (b), 10 (2) (c) Almora 109234 70853 0 0 180087 164.80
and 10 (2) (f) (Drugs Act, 1985, page 14)). Pithoragarh 63895 48611 0 0 112506 175.99
Further, the produce of the land cultivated Kumaon division 359169 269356 8065 104 636694 168.65
Uttarakhand 638940 441093 10474 106 1090613 163.50
with cannabis (hemp) plant has to be handed
over to the authorised officers of the state Source: Uttarakhand Update: A Stastical Profile for Deve

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 poor irrigation and crop diseases. The low
manufacturing fibre and subsequently cloth In the Kumaon region, the rainfall cycle
yield rates are explained by lack of water,
or rope, will leave nothing in the substance is following a declining trend and the stocks
which can be used as a narcotic. In other
hardship due to landslides, floods, poorof water in rivers, tanks, groundwater, and
words, hemp cloth and rope can be freelyseed supply and low capital formation springs are eroding faster than the declin-
exported. [Kadekodi et al 2000:167]. ing rainfall cycle. The erosion is because

Table 6: Districtwise Irrigated Area, Total Area, Production and Average Yield
Water Scarcity of Principal Crops in Uttarakhand (1993-94)
District Irrigated Area Total Area Production Average Yield
Though major rivers like the Ganga and
(Hectare) (Hectare) (Metric Ton) (Quintals)
Yamuna originate in Uttaranchal, there is
a severe scarcity of water for drinking and Paddy Kharif
Chamoli 3204 18760 25403 13.54
agricultural purposes in the region [Murthy Uttarkashi 4529 9890 12415 12.55
et al 2000: 73]. There are several reasons Tehri 10501 17168 22123 12.89
for the shortage of water. The pressure of Garhwal 8214 24774 27460 11.08
Dehradun 12155 14881 26262 17.65
grazing in the Kumaon region is 2.5 to 4.7
Garhwal division 38603 85473 113663 13.30
times higher than the supporting capacity Nainital 98612 106451 332520 31.24
of the forests and as a consequence the Almora 10703 37351 36671 9.82
forest cover has fallen. Forests as a pro- Pithoragarh 5068 30086 35295 11.73
Kumaon division 114383 173888 404986 23.26
portion of reporting area for land utilisation
Uttarakhand 152986 259361 518149 20.00
purposes has declined marginally from
Maize
64.64 per cent in 1980-81 to 63.98 per cent
Chamoli 0 302 321 10.63
in 1993-94 in Uttarakhand [Joshi et al Uttarkashi 0 539 536 9.94
1999 : 39, 53]. Reduction in forest cover Tehri 0 1724 1732 10.05
leads to soil erosion, high surface run-off, Garhwal 0 2303 2264 9.83
Dehradun 405 13735 17626 12.83
and reduction in the rain recharge. An
Garhwal division 405 18603 22479 12.08
increasing population which has subjected Nainital 25 6273 8727 13.91
land and water to greater use has put a lot Almora 0 2330 2663 11.43
of pressure on water resources. Pithoragarh 0 4622 6037 13.06
Kumaon division 25 13225 17427 13.18
The soils in the hilly region are largely
Uttarakhand 430 31828 39906 12.50
rocky and acidity content is high. The
Manduwa
primary economic activity is agriculture as
Chamoli 0 14777 23516 15.91
more than 70 per cent of the villages in Uttarkashi 0 6168 9490 15.39
the Kumaon region are engaged in it. Tehri 0 20662 23664 11.45
Because of the hilly nature of the terrain, Garhwal 0 32075 39640 12.36
Dehradun 1 2964 3654 12.35
terrace cultivation is predominant, except
Garhwal division 1 76646 99964 13.04
in the plains. And in the Kumaon region Nainital 0 4843 7747 16.00
almost 80 per cent of the crops are rainfed Almora 0 42906 47526 11.08
[Murthy et al 2000:73]. More than 82 per Pithoragarh 0 16854 25896 15.36
Kumaon division 0 64603 81169 12.56
cent of the total consumption of water in
Uttarakhand 1 141249 181133 12.80
the Kumaon region is accounted for by
Wheat
irrigation [Murthy et al 2000:80].
Chamoli 2725 22158 32870 14.83
The rain\as well as snow-melt run-offs
Uttarkashi 3208 14446 19008 13.16
cause heavy floods during August [Kumar Tehri 9118 37436 42861 11.45
et al 2000:141]. Due to the topographical Garhwal 8061 31701 38173 9.62
Dehradun 13304 27467 41735 15.19
and drainage conditions, water originating
Garhwal division 36416 141208 174647 12.37
in this region, is not retained within the Nainital 115733 126123 341068 27.04
region. In a sense the Kumaon region Almora 9825 59755 68794 11.51
contributes more than half of the water it Pithoragarh 3540 35501 53016 14.93
Kumaon division 129098 221379 462878 20.91
collects to the plains of India [Kadekodi
Uttarakhand 165514 362587 637525 17.60
and Murthy 2000a : 125]. In other words,
the contribution of this region to the plains Sugar Cane
Chamoli 0 0 0 0.00
of India in the form of water goes unac- Uttarkashi 0 0 0 0.00
counted. It is worthwhile examining if the Tehri 0 0 0 0.00
plains of India which receive water from Garhwal 1 1 59 591.12
Dehradun 6570 5911 372512 571.60
Uttaranchal, should pay the latter for the
Garhwal division 6518 5912 372571 571.60
water it receives. Agriculture is largely Nainital 37649 33451 2327160 618.12
rainfed due to lack of water facilities Almora 2 1 118 591.12
[Kadekodi et al 2000:161]. The produc-Pithoragarh 19 0 1123 591.12
Kumaon division 37670 33452 2328401 618.10
tivity of crops has on average fallen to
Uttarakhand 44188 39364 2700972 611.24
50-60 per cent of their original level; this
is particularly true for soyabean due toSource: Uttarakhand Update: A Stastical P

Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002 1847

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of earthquakes, landslides, floods and productivity of agricultural and commu- approach, with the schemes being imple-
droughts on the one hand and forest fell- nity lands, and declining water resources mented through the formation of village
ing, over- extraction of water, population [Bhatnagar et al 1997: 169]. The terraceswater and sanitation committees. It is also
pressure, conversion of forest land to non- on which agriculture is practised area participatory planning process. The vil-
forest use and road building, on the other unlevelled and slope outwards (by up tolage community contributes both cash and
[Kadekodi 2000: 200]. 10 per cent) and longitudinally(by 8 to 10 labour for the programme. The project
According to a survey, 60 per cent of per cent) without shoulder bunds and waterinvolves creation of sustainable rural water
the people were of the opinion that avail- disposal systems, which leads to high rates supply mechanisms and the construction
of rain water runoffs and soil erosion, of drainage and latrines. It also involves
ability of water for drinking was just about
average but it was below average for ir- causing declining land productivity. Soilan elaborate process of training of
rigation purposes. In 48 per cent of the erosion compounds the problem of low trainers, to enable the villages to run and
cases, crop failure was reported due to soil fertility due to little application ofmaintain their water supply systems [CDS
shortage of water [Kadekodi et al 2000: chemical fertilisers. These soil loss rates 1999:1,24,37,47 and 62]. Swajal is ajoint
171]. Results from the East Ramganga are 2.5-8 times greater than the standardexercise involving the World Bank, the
watershed in the Kumaon region show that erosion tolerance limits [Bhatnagar et alstate governments of UP and Uttaranchal
the recharge of groundwater is very poor 1997:171]. The role of forest land is criti-and NGOs.
[Kumar et al 2000:1411]. cal in regulating the hydrologic moisture Since,major rivers originate in this re-
Detailed studies on water are available regime in a watershed. Keeping in mindgion it is natural to think in terms of
only for the Kumaon region. Hill agricul- soil depth, steepness of the and suscepti- constructing dams for harnessing power
ture is essentially rainfed as only 10 per bility to erosion, most of the land is unfit and for purposes of irrigation. The Tehri
cent of the sown area is irrigated and is for agriculture [Bhatnagar et al 1997:171].dam is one such project and the prime
largely of the subsistence variety. Due to On account of high runoff rates and deepminister had at one stage rightly called for
increasing population pressure from both percolation losses the precipitation effi-a review of this project, though now it is
humans and livestock, and degradation of ciency is low. To reduce soil erosion andexpected to be completed by April 2003.
land and water resources, the people are runoff and increase precipitation efficiency,It is well known to geologists that making
not able to sustain increasing requirementsthe terraces should have shoulder bunds large dams can induce earthquakes [Clarke
for food, fodder and fuel. Therefore theat the outer edge and these bunds can be 1991:112]. This can happen even if the
fragile ecosystem is under severe strain stabilised by planting suitable perennial area lies in a seismic zone with very low
[Bhatnagar et al 1997: 163-64]. grasses [Bhatnagar et al 1997:172]. damage risk. A National Geophysical
Degradation of land, water, forest re- Due to topography and slope, between Research Institute study has shown that the
sources and pasture lands, have caused 20 a and 35 per cent of rainfall from agri- Koyna and Warna dams are causing in-
decline in production. The forest cover, cultural land and up to 50 per cent from duced seismicity in their region ('The Bhuj
and the land and water resources in the community lands goes as surface runoff. Quake': FAQs, The Times of India, Feb-
forests, are under severe strain. A large This runoff water can be collected and ruary 1, 2001). The whole of Uttaranchal
watershed (1,000-5,000 hectares) can be stored in tanks for profitable use laterison sensitive to earthquakes, and the dis-
subdivided into micro-watersheds of a few in supplementing irrigation, raising nurs-
tricts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and
hundred hectares, for its overall develop- ery and growing off-season vegetables.
Bageshwar lie in seismic zone five, which
carries a very high risk [Bose 2000:3793].
ment in a few villages, and land adjoiningIrrigation water can be ensured throughout
the year, when tanks are fed by low dis-
different villages, with their different land Construction of large dams in the region
uses and natural drainage channels. In acharge springs, that is, those having is an
a invitation to seismic disaster. The
solution lies in having small dams and
study done on the Khulgad micro-water-discharge of less than 10 litres per minute.
shed in the Kosi catchment area, similarHowever, the problem is fragmentationmini-hydropower
of plants that generate up
problems were observed in all the villages, to 50 MW each. China has shown their
landholdings, which are not only small but
namely, scarcity of fodder, fuel and food,scattered and hence prevents a unified feasibility by constructing a chain of small
approach to the treatment of a watershed
drinking and irrigation water, low level of dams and mini- hydropower plants [Clarke
[Bhatnagar et al 1997:174-76].
1991:163]. Uttaranchal has a ready buyer
Table 7: Scheduled Commercial Banks
Traditional forms of water harvesting,for its power in Haryana, which has shown
Credit to Industry - March 1999
which though obtain in this region, aare willingness to buy power for its indus-
District Amount Outstanding tries ('FM rules out duty cuts, protection
now in disuse. Naula is a method of ground-
(in Rs'000)
water harvesting typical in this region.to domestic units', The Economic Times,
Almora 8,72,99 November 11, 2000).
However, deforestation and road construc-
Dehradun 94,00,71
tion have caused nearly 95 per cent of the In Uttaranchal, around 30 per cent of the
Garhwal 5,08,72
Haridwar 102,78,71 naulas and springs to dry up. Every thirdcultivated area is irrigated, but if the dis-
Nainital 307,82,81 village suffers from acute water shortagetricts of Nainital and Dehradun are ex-
Pithoragarh 10,68,85 [Agarwal et al 1997:45]. cluded, the proportion of net irrigated area
Tehri Garhwal 5,55,03
Udham Singh Nagar 108,26,16
works out to only 10 per cent [Shah
Swajal is a World Bank-aided rural water
Chamoli 2,71,32 1997:23]. Irrigation is known to provide
supply and environmental sanitation project
Uttarkashi 1,13,78 initiated in 1,000 villages of Uttarakhand
security to the farmer who was previously
Source: Banking Statistics, Basic Statistical
and Bundelkhand (UP) in 1996 with a dependent on seasonal rainfall, encourag-
Returns, Volume 28, March 1999, RBI, project span of six years, stretching to ing him to use higher yielding varieties and
Mumbai. 2002. The project has a participatory relatively costly inputs such as fertilisers

1848 Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002

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and pesticides [Clarke 1991:28]. Through local raw materials and having local ar- in Central Himalaya/Uttarakhand, Shri
the construction of small dams, irrigation chitecture. Appropriate lessons could be Almora Book Depot, Almora, pp 163-78.
Bisht, L D (1997): 'Studies on the Identification
would certainly provide security to the drawn from heritage construction of hotels
of Fruit Species for the Development of a Fruit
farmers of this region, but in the context in Rajasthan. The potential for tourism in Belt in the Khulgad Micro Watershed Villages'
of Uttaranchal it should be noted that the Uttaranchal can be gauged from the effect in S L Shah (ed), Sustainable and Replicable,
average landholdings are extremely small of the installation of ropeways at Maa pp 247-66.
and this security therefore would have only Chandidevi temple, Haridwar, due to which Bora R S (2000): 'Arresting Out-migration: Some
limited relevance. Policy Considerations for Uttaranchal', The
the number of tourists rose from 50,000
Indian Journal of Labour Economics, April-
four years ago to 6.5 lakhs in 2000 ('Rope- June, Volume 43, Number 2.
Other Sectors ways to the gods make darshan easier', Bose, Ashish (2000): 'Are Natural Disasters
Hindustan Times, January 6, 2001). Manmade?', Economic and Political Weekly,
October 28, Vol XXXV Nos 43 and 44:
The income and employment-generat- The Roorkee Engineering College will
3793-94.
ing activities of registered factories and be upgraded to an IIT (para 64, Part A, Clarke, Robin (1991): Water - The International
household industries in Uttaranchal are Union budget speech 2001-02, The Eco- Crisis, Earthscan Publications, London.
almost negligible [Bora 2000:303]. If one nomic Times, March 1,2001). This should CDS (1999): Mid-term Report October 1998 to
uses the bank credit advanced to industry have a favourable impact on employment. March (1999), SWAJAL Capacity Building
Programme, Centre for Development Studies,
as an indicator of industrialisation only theFor a population of nearly one crore
UP Academy of Administration, Nainital.
districts of Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar people, most of whom live in rural areas, Guha, Ramchandra (1985): 'Scientific Forestry
and Udham Singh Nagar are industrialised there are only 322 rural dispensaries, 257 and Social Change in Uttarakhand', Economic
to a certain extent, while the remaining primary health centres,-36 rural women's and Political Weekly,Vol XX, Nos 45, 46 and
hospitals, 23 community health centres
districts are backward (Table 7). In respect 47, Special Number, November, pp 1939-52.
of all economic activities, including agri-and 1,525 sub-centres for basic health Joshi A, P S Garia and I Hasnain (1999):
Uttarakhand Update, A Statistical Profile for
culture, manufacturing, industry or ser- workers ('VIPs hijack Uttaranchal's medi- Development Planning, Kanishka Publishers,
cal fund, The Times of India, March 12,
vices, the six hilly districts - Uttarkashi, Distributors, New Delhi.
Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, 2001). Diseases relating to stomach, teeth, Kadekodi, Gopal K, K S R Murthy and Saroj
Pithoragarh and Almora - were the least eyes and intestines are predominant in Kumar Choudhary (2000): 'Socio-Economic
developed in the undivided state ofUttaranchal.
UP But there is no medical in- Profiles and Water Management in Selected
Villages' in Gopal K Kadekodi, K S R Murthy
[Bora 2000:295-96]. frastructure to deal with these problems. and Kireet Kumar (eds),Water in Kumaon:
Is Uttaranchal economically viable?The The National Development Council has Ecology, Value and Rights, Gyanodaya
first state reorganisation commission granted
had special category status for Prakashan, Nainital, pp 155-80.
Uttaranchal, which will entitle it to receiveKadekodi, Gopal K (2000): 'Towards Sustainable
turned down the proposal for the creation
of Uttaranchal on the grounds that it 90 per cent of the central plan assistance Water Resource Management' in Gopal
was
K Kadekodi et al (eds), Water in Kumaon,
not economically viable ('Will politics
in the form of grants, and 10 per cent pp 199-204.
as loan. i3
derail development', The Economic Times, Kadekodi, Gopal K and K S R Murthy (2000a):
November 16,2000). The backward agrar- 'A Dynamic Water Model for Gaula Watershed'
ian character of the state, with fragmented Note in Gopal K Kadekodi et al (eds), Water in
and uneconomical holdings would in fact Kumaon, pp 81-126.
Kumar, Kireet and G S Satyal (2000): 'Physical
suggest this. The first budget of Uttaranchal
[I am grateful to the Kassar Trust for funding the
Accounting of Water: A Micro-Watershed
presented for a period of five months study.
in I would like to thank Ashish Bose, Bina Analysis' in Gopal K Kadekodi et al (eds),
November 2000, had a large deficitAgarwal,
of Kapil Kumar and Attar Singh for their
Water in Kumaon, pp 127-53.
helpful suggestions.]
Rs 1,700 crore. However, there is hope. Murthy, K S R and Gopal K Kadekodi (2000):
1 According to an advertisement placed in the 'Dynamics of Water Resources in Kumaon
Tourists already bring in Rs 12,000 crore
Hindustan Times dated November 9, 2001 by Region' in Gopal K Kadekodi et al (eds),
annually and this could in the near future
the Information and Public Relations Water in Kumaon, pp 55-80.
be increased to Rs 16,000 crore ('Head for Pathak, Shekhar (1977): 'States, Society and
Department, Government of Uttaranchal, a
the hills', Q and A, Kedar Singh Fonia, Natural Resources in Himalaya - Dynamics
statutory Uttaranchal tourism development
The Times of India, March 10, 2001). If
board is being constituted. of Change in Colonial and Post Colonial
horticultural development takes place, as Uttarakhand, Economic and Political Weekly,
Vol 11, No 33, April 26.
in the case of Himachal Pradesh, and References Rawat, Sandeep (1997): 'Livestock Production in
tourism is declared a thrust activity, Khulgad Micro Watershed' in S L Shah (ed),
Uttaranchal may be viable after all. The Agarwal, Anil and Sunita Narain (eds) (1997): Sustainable and Replicable, pp 305-16.
Industrial Development Finance Corpora- Dying Wisdom - Rise, Fall and Potential of
Shah, S L (1997): 'A Sustainable and Replicable
India's Traditional Water Harvesting System, Model of Eco-development in Uttaranchal/
tion has declared Uttaranchal to be a 'pure
Centre for Science and Environment, 'State Uttarakhand: Methodologies and Strategies'
tourism' state ('IDFC will now finance
of India's Environment: A Citizen's Report'.
in S L Shah (ed), Sustainable and Replicable,
tourism projects', The Economic Times, Agarwal, Rakesh (1999): 'Van Panchayats in pp 1-86.
December 9, 2000). Uttaranchal should Shah, Umesh Chandra (1997b): 'Problems and
Uttarakhand - A Case Study', Economic and
create a tourism development board' along Political Weekly, 34 (39), September 25. Prospects of Horticultural Development' in
the lines of Thailand, Singapore and Bhatnagar, V K and S Kundu (1997): 'Village Khulgad Micro Watershed in S L Shah (ed),
Level Approach Vis-a-Vis Watershed Sustainable and Replicable, pp 267-78.
Malaysia, with representatives from both Approach in Soil and Water Conservation, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
the private sector and government.l Eco-Development, (The Khulgud Micro- Act, 1985 along with The Narcotic Drugs and
Instead of opting for five-star hotels, Watershed Experience)' in S L Shah (ed), Psychotropic Substances Rules; 1985, etc,
Uttaranchal should opt for cottages using Sustainable and Replicable, Eco-Development Universal Law Publishing Co, Delhi.

Economic and Political Weekly May 11, 2002 1849

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