Abstract:
In view of the disparities in different river basins, inter-basin transfer of water has been receiving attention from Indian water resources planners for diversion of water from surplus river basins to water deficit basins. As envisaged in the National Water Policy, water resources development and management plans should he for a hydrological unit such as drainage basin as a whole or a sub-basin, taking into account surface and ground waters Or sustainable use. All individual development projects and proposals should be formulated and considered within the frame work of such an overall plan keeping in view the existing agreements/awards for a basin or sub-basin. Water should be made available to water deficit areas by transfer front other areas including transfers from one river basin to another, if necessary, based on a national perspective, after taking into account the requirements of all areas/basins. Integrated and coordinated development of surface water and groundwater resources and their conjunctive use should be envisaged right front the project planning stage and should form an integral part of the project implementation. To identify water surplus and water deficit in the basin, water balance studies should be carried out. The Mahanadi-Godavari link is one of the 16 proposed links in the Peninsular region. Objective of the present study is to discuss the water balance of Mahanadi Basin at Manibhadra. The water balancing has been carried out on monthly basis with 75% and 90% dependability with and without groundwater. From the monthly 75% and 90% dependability flow series, the annual surface water potential of 32717 MCM and 22654 MCM has been estimated. The utilizable groundwater is around 2602.9 MCM. The total water requirement to meet different needs comes to 37133 MCM. Front the water balance study it has been found that the Mahanadi basin at Manibhadra is a deficit basin and to solve this problem it is suggested to develop the groundwater potential, so that the deficit condition can be met
