Integrated model of green energy sources for irrigation in remote hill areas

Abstract

Energy security, today, is of paramount concern for a sustainable future. For convenience, by using newer newlinetechnologies, we are only accelerating the consumption of depleting natural resources viz. Oil, timber and newlinefossil fuel. Nuclear and hydro power has inherent implications in maintaining ecological balance. Construction newlineof large Dams in hilly areas is enhancing seismic activities with their large water bodies. Electricity generation newlinefrom nuclear power plant has already shown its disastrous consequences in Chernobyl, Russia and more newlinerecently in Fukushima, Japan, making these areas uninhabitable for humans for hundreds of years. Nature newlineitself provides abundance of green renewable energy to meet all human requirements. newlineA vast tract of land inhabited by humans consists of hilly terrain. The people from these hills, per force, resort newlineto terrace cultivation. Water for irrigation is not scarce but mismanaged. Whatever scant rainfall it receives is newlineallowed to run down the slopes unutilised. No substantial effort is made to enrich the moisture content of the newlinesoil or recharge the subsoil water. The water is wasted down through rivulets and streams. The sub-Himalayan newlineregion is blessed with a string of rivers. Billions of cusecs of water just flow down to the plains unutilised. newlineUsing conventional means of irrigation by pumps and motors is neither sustainable nor economical. Thus, the newlinelack of cultivation is leading to mass migration to big cities in plains for alternate livelihood. Only the old and newlinehandicapped persons are left behind to fend for themselves. This in turn is resulting in demographic shift and overcrowding of cities. The village land is lying virtually abandoned in most hilly areas. For India specifically, newlineit has become a strategic problem. Almost all border villages along our northern front have virtually become Ghost villages. To the extent that some of the villages during winter months are solely dependent on our neighbour across the border.