MIKE Basin application for planning irrigation releases and reservoir operation

Abstract

The Indian economy is primarily based on agriculture and more than 75 % population depends on agriculture and agro based jobs. Despite the high priority and massive investment in the irrigation sector and its phenomenal growth since independence, the performance of irrigation systems, both in economic terms of crop yields, farm incomes and cost recovery, as well as in water distribution terms of adequacy, equity, timeliness of water supplies, has not been encouraging. The main reasons behind not achieving requisite success may be the disparity in supply of water, improper reservoir operation, losses and irrigation management. The water requirements for a command vary significantly and depend on multiple factors such as crop types, soil moisture, rainfall, losses and climatic conditions. The MIKE BASIN software can be used to operate reservoir system with efficient operation policy under variable climate, rainfall, crops and efficiencies conditions. The MIKE BASIN philosophy is to keep modelling simple and intuitive, yet provide in-depth insight for planning and management. For hydrological simulations, MIKE BASIN builds on a network model in which branches represent individual stream sections and the nodes represent confluences, diversions, reservoirs, or water users. The present paper describe the application of MIKE BASIN model for planning of irrigation releases in Rangawan reservoir having water sharing issues and command of Harsi complex reservoir system in India.