TR-161 : Hydrological network for Tawi-J&K

Abstract

Planning the development of water resources depends to a large extent on the proper assessment of available water resources and their distribution in the different river basins. Data of hydro meteorological and hydrological parameters is necessary for developing and managing water resources. Forecasting of flood discharge, study of low flows, operation of reservoirs and hydroelectric projects

A hydrologic network is an organised system for the collection of information of specific kinds, such as precipitation, runoff, water quality and sedimentation. The basic objective of hydrologic network design is to determine the optimum number of stations and their optimum locations so as to yield representative data for the catchment or region. While lack of a generally acceptable methodology often creates difficulties for network design their execution is hampered by the lack of necessary funds.

The Tawi river in the Jammu region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir has abundant water resources for harnessing. However, systematic hydrological studies have not been carried out till to date, due to lack of proper and adequate hydro meteorological and hydrological network. For a catchment of nearly 2000 sq. km there are only two rain gauges at Ramnagar and Udhampur and one I.M.D. observatory at Jammu. There is only one gauge discharge site of the C.W.C. at Jammu. Keeping in view the need for carrying out necessary hydrological studies for the various water resources development schemes being proposed by the state of J & K , the irrigation department has desired that the design of hydro meteorological, and hydrological network may be taken up.

In the absence of adequate data base rigorous methods of network design could not be applied. The design had to be based only on WMO and BIS norms and simple empirical methods using the limited precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) data recorded at the three stations within the catchment and another four stations, Samba, Bhadarwah, Rot and Batote outside the catchment.

Based on the study, a network of eleven hydro meteorological stations including rain gauges, snow gauges, self recording rain gauges and hydromet observatories and a network of five gauge discharge and sediment sites has been recommended.