Abstract:
P In the name of development schemes each Institution is taking up programmes and projects
to suit its primary objective and overlooking the detrimental effects that may even harm its
primary objective in long term. There is need to cope up with stresses on a given river basin.
This is because basin water resources are committed and there are challenges posed by water
quality and its scarcity. Societies respond to water shortage at basin scale and local scale in
many ways, at both the individual and community level and the different basin regions.
Due to u/s diversions at Duvva regulator, the contribution from irrigation return flows and
base flows has significant effect on quality of stream flows down stream. Further down
stream with the confluence of Gosthanadi with Y Drain though there is increase in river flow
its quality is dominated by the effluents from Gosthanadi apart from that of irrigation retuen
flows and base flows. It is observed that due to unilateral way of providing irrigation for 2 to
3 crops in the with the study area which is part of Godavari delta command area system, there
is interference with natural flows in Yerrakalva river and on its drainage, that has gone
unnoticed. The water resources department itself is the custodian as conservator of the stream
and only should be aware of the importance of allowing sufficient discharges to maintain
river eco system.
Hence, assuring a secure water future is becoming more costly and increasingly uncertain. To
effectively develop and manage water resources from local to national level, there is
necessity for stronger collaboration and cooperation across institutional, political and
geographic boundaries and by adopting river basin and IWRM approach. In the study, frame
work of existing system is reviewed and data analysed to suggest pertinent IWRM plans that
are to be approached by WUAs and authorities for better and improved river ecology in the Y
drain system.
