INTER BASIN WATER TRANSFERS IN INDIA – A SOLUTION TO HYDROLOGICAL EXTREMITIES

H. Mahabaleshwara, H.M. Nagabhushan

Abstract: Water is treated as liquid gold since it is sacred and precious natural resource for health and wealth of the humanity. It is one and only the life sustaining elements of nature and second to “air” for survival of mankind and live stock on the earth. Earth is the only planet at present contains liquid water. The spatial and temporal uniformity in rainfall may possibly meet the water requirements for the various sectors such as Agriculture, Power, Industries, Domestic requirements etc., for the overall development of a region or country, If non uniformity is observed it results in the flooding situations in certain areas and drought conditions in some areas which have adverse impacts on the socio economic growth of a developing country. The government of India is spending enormous amount every year to overcome these natural unforeseen calamities. To protect a region or country from floods and droughts, it is inevitable to have a remedy/solution to transfer the water from surplus basin to deficit basins. The concept of Inter basin & Intra basin water transfer can provide unique solution for the dual problems faced by the country like India. India having geographical area of 328 MHa stands as Seventh largest country in the world. The total water potential of India per annum is 4 x 106 Mm3 (4000 km3 ) including snow fall out of which 1.887 x 106 Mm3 (1887 Km3 ) flows as river water. At present 1.033 x 106 Mm3 (1033 Km3 ) of water is utilized and balances as 0.854 x 106 Mm3 (854 Km3 ) flows into sea and oceans. Also India experiences/ blessed with good rainfall in majority of the areas and scanty rainfall in few locations. The magnitude of average rainfall in North Eastern states of India is about 300 cm and less than 15 cm in North Western parts in the arid and semiarid regions. For the effective management of rain water in India the only alternative is to implementing Inter basin & Intra basin concepts. As per the studies conducted by NWDA(National Water Development Agency) about all river basis of India, it is remarked that Inter basin Water transfer is quite possible. NWDA proposed linking of Indian rivers under two components namely Himalayan and Peninsular components comprising perennial and non perennial rivers. Thus 30 links are proposed for benefiting water deficit basins from surplus basins, thereby flooding situations can be reduced and drought impact may be minimized to uplift for social and economical growth of India. The present paper throws a light on present rainfall and water potential scenario of India pertaining to interlinking of rivers which is on the top agenda of the country

Keywords: HYDROLOGICAL

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0315100