Troubled times
Wide variations exist in the annual sediment deposition under different physiographic settings. Nadis situated in older alluvial plains have the highest sedimentation rate, whereas those in the younger alluvial plains have the least. To take care of the capacity reduction of a nadi caused by sedimentation, villagers carry out dredging prior to every monsoon. After dredging, the sediments are used in the sandy fields or for brick-making.
The disproportionately large surface areas of nadis in comparison with the volume of water stored, results in heavy water losses on account of evaporation; seepage losses, on the other hand, increase with the depth of stored water. Evaporation losses, varying from 55 per cent to 80 per cent of total losses, are highest during the driest season from March to June. Seepage losses are greatest during monsoon - from July to September - when the nadis are completely filled. Poor maintenance and improper utilisation of these systems have resulted in heavy pollution and presence of guineaworms, water hyacinth, mosses and algae in many places.
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