Abstract:
Availability of reliable data such as water levels and rain fall coupled with inflow forecasts for existing/ongoing projects in any basin is essential for taking right decisions on the water management as also for the optimum utilization of water resources. It was in this context, Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal(NWDT) directed under clause XIV of its final orders that, "... stream and other gauging stations equipped with automatic recorders, wherever necessary, discharge, silt and evaporation observation stations and measuring devices ...." be established, maintained and operated in the Narmada basin. The Tribunal under Sub Clause 8(3)(xvi) also directed that "the Authority shall issue appropriate directions for the establishment, maintenance and operation of an effective system of flood forecasting and flood control, including reporting of heavy precipitation, and telecommunication systems ". Narmada Control Authority was set up in 1980 as a machinery for monitoring and implementing the final decisions of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal for the allocation of Narmada water among the party states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In order to comply with the mandate of the Tribunal, Narmada Control Authority has taken up the implementation of the Hydrometeorlogical network in Narmada basin for the purpose of formulation and dissemination of inflow/flood forecast, water accounting, integrated reservoir regulations including the regulated releases from Indira Sagar Project (ISP) to Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) for irrigation and other water needs of Gujrat and Rajasthan.
The Real-time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) being implemented by the Authority through M/s Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL) Hyderabad and their foreign associates M/s Vitel Inc. U.S.A. on a turn key basis., is conceptually a fore-runner project in the country in the field of the operational hydrology and has many outstanding features relating to the hydrological and communication aspects, which position it well in the Hi-tech cluster of the country.
In the present paper, an attempt has been made to highlight the need, configuration , potential benefits and challenges confronting this network for the benefit of the user agencies in other basins. The authors are closely associated with this project since its conceptual stage.
