The hallmark of watershed development in the semi-arid regions of India is the undertaking of earthworks, soil conservation measures, and tree plantation to conserve soil moisture and recharge underground water.
Watershed development is an approach to managing and conserving water resources in a specific geographic area called a watershed. In semi-arid regions, where water scarcity is a significant challenge, watershed development focuses on implementing various measures to maximize the utilization and availability of water resources.
The primary strategies involved in watershed development include:
1. Earthworks: This involves constructing physical structures like contour bunds, check dams, and percolation tanks to trap and retain rainwater. These structures help in preventing runoff, controlling erosion, and promoting water infiltration into the ground.
2. Soil conservation measures: Techniques like contour plowing, terracing, and mulching are employed to reduce soil erosion, improve soil moisture retention, and enhance soil fertility. These measures help in preventing water loss through surface runoff and conserving soil moisture for vegetation.
3. Tree plantation: Planting trees, especially indigenous and drought-resistant species, helps in increasing vegetation cover, reducing evaporation, and promoting water infiltration into the soil. Trees play a crucial role in improving groundwater recharge and maintaining ecological balance.
4. Integrated water management: Watershed development also emphasizes integrated water management practices, such as water harvesting, water-efficient irrigation methods, and efficient use of water resources for agriculture, domestic purposes, and livestock.
The establishment of sheds on a large scale to prevent evaporation, drilling deep tubewells, or setting up a system of tanks by banking water from seasonal rivers are not specifically associated with the hallmark of watershed development in semi-arid regions. Instead, the focus is on implementing soil conservation measures, earthworks, and tree plantation to conserve soil moisture and recharge underground water.
Therefore, the correct hallmark of watershed development in the semi-arid regions of India is the undertaking of earthworks, soil conservation measures, and tree plantation to conserve soil moisture and recharge underground water.