Theme 4-14-Emerging information technology for sustainable water resources development in India.

Abstract

Poor availability of comprehensive and good quality hydrological data and inadvertent use of inappropriate techniques leads to unsound water resources development. Non-availability of infrastructure for computerised data processing and hydrological applications has been a major cause in not employing desired solutions in the past. Developing countries like India can immensely benefit by making judicious use of the emerging information technology, which is now available at an affordable cost. The newer technologies can also improve speed and quality of decision making, presenting, and disseminating hydrological information in an efficient and user-friendly manner. Employing and absorbing the technologies with the pace with which they are evolving to develop and utilize the dwindling water resources in a sustainable manner is a formidable challenge.

The existing Indian Hydrological Information Systems (HIS) are inadequate in terms of reliability, accessibility, compatibility and presentation. These are operated by a number of central and state government agencies, often lacking desired integration, coordination and standardization. They may provide information of varying reliability, have duplications, and often long delays between observation and use/dissemination. It is essential to evolve a new HIS strategy based on latest tools. The main objective behind setting up an up-to-date hydrological database is an improved and realistic picture of the hydrology of an area. A well-designed and comprehensive hydrological-linked-geographical database will result in substantial improvement in the efficiency of the water sector and will also lead to better planning. When such data are easily and readily available, the profession would also see application of better tools.