Basin-wise Environmental Management Plans

This is a sectoral environmental assessment for the Rajasthan Water Resources Consolidation Project, which supports reforms in the State's water resources managmeent program. Anticipated negative environmental impacts include: a rise in groundwater level and general waterlogging, an increase in soil salinity, displacement of people due to new reservoirs, deforestation, reduced in-stream flow, increased use of agro-chemicals and deterioration in surface water quality, deterioration of groundwater quality in industrial areas, increased water-related diseases in rural areas, and increased industrial and municipal wasteload and deterioration in surface and groundwater quality. Mitigation measures provide a new drainage network, introduce farmers' participation and the transfer of irrigation and drainage systems management, provide operation and maintenance to the irrigation and drainage network, apply effluent treatment of industrial and urban waste, avoid the location of projects near ecologically sensitive areas, maintain minimum in-stream flows, control the exploitation of groundwater resources, and monitor the rural water supply and sanitation system.