|
|
|
Overall water resource
availability and consumption
| Current status |
Availability/consumption (a)
(million hectare-metres) |
| Present utilisable freshwater resources |
110-112 |
| Currently used freshwater resources |
53 |
| Renewable water resource: rainfall (based on average precipitation) |
400 |
| Rainfall: available as surfacewater |
185 |
| Rainfall: which can be stored underground |
50 |
| Rainfall: which can be stored in soil |
165 |
| Notes: a : Figures on water availability and consumption
are approximate
In order to maximise the utilisation of surfacewater, a storage
capacity of 35-40 million hectare-metres (mham) is required. About 50 per cent of this is
already available, and the rest is either under consideration or is under construction.
Capacity, possible under tanks and small reservoir below 10 million cubic metres, is
estimated at about 3.5-4.0 mham. A major part of this exists, but needs to be renovated or
replaced. The balance capacity (about 15/20 mham) would have to be under major and medium
reservoir schemes. |
| Source: Gian N Kathpalia 1996,
Policy and Strategy for Participatory Water Resources and Irrigation Management, Paper
presented at the Seminar on Water Policy: Agricultural Scientists’ Perception, Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. |
|
|
