A GIS based model for integrated water resources Management in an irrigation system

Abstract

Irrigation accounts for around 83% of the total freshwater demands in India. With limited availability of water as compared to demands, considerable improvement in efficiency of water use by different sectors, especially irrigation, is urgently required. Some of the major non-structural causes of low water use efficiency in irrigation systems include wasteful use of water by head-reach farmers, inequity and indiscipline in the irrigation system operation, lack of involvement of beneficiaries, and absence of meaningful co-ordination of multidisciplinary departments at various levels. This paper reports the development of a spatially distributed simulation model for analyzing the realtime allocation of surface water and groundwater in an irrigation command. The model is linked to GIS for considering the spatial characteristics of important agriculture-related variables and for effective presentation of results. Based on the irrigation demands, canal water availability and groundwater conditions during a week, the model optimally allocates the surface water and groundwater while maintaining the environment. Application of the model requires real-time flow of multi-disciplinary data at the control centre. Presentation of results in map form can make the general public more informed and can involve them in decision-making process. The effect of adopting various efficiency enhancement measures or other system modifications on the overall system performance can be analyzed by the model. The model application is demonstrated for the Lakhaoti branch command area under the Madhya Ganga Canal System in U.P. State, India.