Formulation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) plan at district level: a case study from Bundelkhand region of India

Abstract

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is being implemented all over the world, considering its wide area of applications and flexible spatial scale. Scientists have found IWRM useful in an Indian context also where a coordinated development of water and land resources is sought as part of complete economic, social and environmental welfare. The paper presents the concepts of ‘Local IWRM’ planning applied to water conservation and management in a case study of Ur river watershed in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh (India). The Plan considers effective utilization of land, water and other available natural resources, linked to the vulnerabilities and livelihood opportunities in the geographical area. The IWRM Plan, designed in three sections – (1) water management, (2) land management, and (3) livelihood management – provides specific suggestions on the activities under these three themes as useful inputs to the District Irrigation Plan (DIP) of the Government. The proposed IWRM Plan intends to promote the component of water demand management in district level planning and is envisioned to be an ‘implementable’ planning document for district level government. Acceptability of the IWRM plan is potentially enhanced as the plan was developed through a participatory process, wherein all relevant stakeholders were consulted at different stages of development.