SR-22 : Methods of water conservation and their effective use in Drought effected areas

Abstract

The nature has blessed our Country with a better share of water resource, but erratic nature of Indian monsoon leads to the extreme of floods droughts simultaneously occurring in different parts. This causes vast damage, sufferings to mankind and economic losses. At the same time the fast expanding India's population as from 1991 census is 800 million at present and estimated to be 1000 million by 2000 A.D. has a tremendous pressure of meeting the everyday increasing demands of water for various uses for the general well being of the population.

The Irrigation Commission of India ( 1972) has estimated a total surface water resources as 180 m.ha.m. and an increase of irrigation potential by 48 m.ha.m. since 1951 The high cost involved in both the formation of more irrigation potential and inter basins transfers has yielded the thinking of our scientists and hydrologist towards the conservation of available surface and ground water resources at all stages of its occurrence and at all stages of its utilization. These challenge will have to be met by effective and appropriate water conservation practice.

This report covers the methods of water conservation at the stage of its occurrence and during its utilization in domestic, agriculture and industrial uses. The report covers the conservation of surface water from evaporation, by the use of monomolecular films and by the use of wind breaks. The conservation of ground water covers the use of percolation tanks, use of injection wells and subsurface dames.

The report also covers the conservation of water during the phase of its utilization like domestic, agriculture and industrial. The water conservation in the area of domestic use covers the use of roof water harvesting, desalination of saline water in equate water shortage area and conservation in domestic supply. The water conservation in area of agriculture use covers the conservation by water harvesting, conservation from seepage, conservation by adaptation of advanced irrigation methods, conservation by forming and engineering practices, reuse of irrigation and weather forecasting. The report also covers some of the aspects of water conservation in industrial uses.