Significance of water has been immense for
the development of civilizations (Singh and
Pandey 1996b). Importance of water as a
resource is indelible across the entire biotic
community, including human beings (Igor 1993).
Dating back to 5000 years during Indus Valley
Civilization, Harappa produces the evidence that
people of ancient civilization settled near the
sources of water which were used for several
(domestic, irrigation, public baths and rituals and
other activity) purposes (Singh and Pandey 1993,
1996b). It is still used for almost all religious
rituals and ceremonies as offerings to the
Almighty God because it is considered as purifying source (Pandey 2004). Due to many reasons; today, the demand and need for water has
exceeded the limit of its availability (Nair 2004).
In the contemporary scenario, water resource is
stressed with accentuating demands to fulfill the
requirements and likely to arise in the near future
(PAI 1997). It is getting strained due to consistent population pressure, increasing industrialization and rapid growth of urbanization (Gleick
et al. 2002). Water degradation requires urgent
attention as long with its quality, water quantity
is also decreasing at a very rapid pace, hence,
suitable inexpensive water treatment and recycling methods are needed for the development in
present century together with reuse or conservation methods (Anand 2013). Thus, it should be
the prime question to the world’s intellectual dais
because this is the core element of the factor to
survive. The comprehensive, adequate, appropriate and long-term strategies are needed for
sustainable water resource management (Agarwal et al. 2000). Its management is required not
only for the economic prosperity but also to
enhance the quality of life of human beings as
well (FAO 2002). Moreover, these management
practices should be based on managing the
freshwater demand and supply under the stressed
water availability conditions and increasing
water supply (Cosgrove and Rijsberman 2000;
Nolde 2005).
Today, water resource storage, retrieval and
dissemination constitute significant monitoring
system for sustainable development (Amarasinghe et al. 2007). Water resource availability is
adequately enough for its present requirements,
whereas geographically its allocation and quality
are incredibly varied in quantities (Lal 2001).
Precipitation is the main factor of the water cycle
for considering the vital element for biome
because it can alter and modify the allocation of
water resources and also shaped it; while the
average annual precipitation of India is estimated
about 4000 BCM (Billion Cubic Meter) out of
which some part is lost as evapotranspiration,
some water gets percolated in the ground as
groundwater recharge and the remaining appears
as surface water (MoWRRDGR 2019). The
water resource potential of India gets flowed as
natural runoff in the rivers, and groundwater
recharge is estimated at about 1869 BCM
(Planning Commission of India 2013). It constitutes a little over 4% of the total river flows of the
world (Pandey et al. 2004). However, topographical and climatic constraints allowed only
about 1121000 Million Cusec Meters
(MCM) freshwater to beneficial use annually
worldwide (Suhag 2016). It can be achieved
through 690 BCM of utilizable surface water and
431 BCM through groundwater (MoWRRDGR,
GoI 2019). A large number of projects, including
ongoing projects such as dams, barrages,
hydropower structures, canal networks have
come all over the country in successive FiveYear Plans (NCIWRD 1999). A milestone in
water resources management is the creation of a
huge capacity for storage (Rao 1973; Simonovic
2000). Now it has become possible to provide
assured irrigation in the command areas and
scarce regions of India (Gandhi and Namboodiri
2002).
Nowadays, several hydro and thermal power
plants are actively seen in providing services to
meet requirements for various uses in the country. Flood moderation and water storage techniques for fulfilling the essential requirements of
people and have also been effectively regulated
in many flood-prone areas (Seth 2000). Besides
this, with the positive and productive approaches
to the schemes of the government for drinking
water supply in remote and harsh areas has also
become possible due to various technological
advancements (Allan 1998; Hassing et al. 2009).
6
B. W. Pandey and S. Anand
the development of civilizations (Singh and
Pandey 1996b). Importance of water as a
resource is indelible across the entire biotic
community, including human beings (Igor 1993).
Dating back to 5000 years during Indus Valley
Civilization, Harappa produces the evidence that
people of ancient civilization settled near the
sources of water which were used for several
(domestic, irrigation, public baths and rituals and
other activity) purposes (Singh and Pandey 1993,
1996b). It is still used for almost all religious
rituals and ceremonies as offerings to the
Almighty God because it is considered as purifying source (Pandey 2004). Due to many reasons; today, the demand and need for water has
exceeded the limit of its availability (Nair 2004).
In the contemporary scenario, water resource is
stressed with accentuating demands to fulfill the
requirements and likely to arise in the near future
(PAI 1997). It is getting strained due to consistent population pressure, increasing industrialization and rapid growth of urbanization (Gleick
et al. 2002). Water degradation requires urgent
attention as long with its quality, water quantity
is also decreasing at a very rapid pace, hence,
suitable inexpensive water treatment and recycling methods are needed for the development in
present century together with reuse or conservation methods (Anand 2013). Thus, it should be
the prime question to the world’s intellectual dais
because this is the core element of the factor to
survive. The comprehensive, adequate, appropriate and long-term strategies are needed for
sustainable water resource management (Agarwal et al. 2000). Its management is required not
only for the economic prosperity but also to
enhance the quality of life of human beings as
well (FAO 2002). Moreover, these management
practices should be based on managing the
freshwater demand and supply under the stressed
water availability conditions and increasing
water supply (Cosgrove and Rijsberman 2000;
Nolde 2005).
Today, water resource storage, retrieval and
dissemination constitute significant monitoring
system for sustainable development (Amarasinghe et al. 2007). Water resource availability is
adequately enough for its present requirements,
whereas geographically its allocation and quality
are incredibly varied in quantities (Lal 2001).
Precipitation is the main factor of the water cycle
for considering the vital element for biome
because it can alter and modify the allocation of
water resources and also shaped it; while the
average annual precipitation of India is estimated
about 4000 BCM (Billion Cubic Meter) out of
which some part is lost as evapotranspiration,
some water gets percolated in the ground as
groundwater recharge and the remaining appears
as surface water (MoWRRDGR 2019). The
water resource potential of India gets flowed as
natural runoff in the rivers, and groundwater
recharge is estimated at about 1869 BCM
(Planning Commission of India 2013). It constitutes a little over 4% of the total river flows of the
world (Pandey et al. 2004). However, topographical and climatic constraints allowed only
about 1121000 Million Cusec Meters
(MCM) freshwater to beneficial use annually
worldwide (Suhag 2016). It can be achieved
through 690 BCM of utilizable surface water and
431 BCM through groundwater (MoWRRDGR,
GoI 2019). A large number of projects, including
ongoing projects such as dams, barrages,
hydropower structures, canal networks have
come all over the country in successive FiveYear Plans (NCIWRD 1999). A milestone in
water resources management is the creation of a
huge capacity for storage (Rao 1973; Simonovic
2000). Now it has become possible to provide
assured irrigation in the command areas and
scarce regions of India (Gandhi and Namboodiri
2002).
Nowadays, several hydro and thermal power
plants are actively seen in providing services to
meet requirements for various uses in the country. Flood moderation and water storage techniques for fulfilling the essential requirements of
people and have also been effectively regulated
in many flood-prone areas (Seth 2000). Besides
this, with the positive and productive approaches
to the schemes of the government for drinking
water supply in remote and harsh areas has also
become possible due to various technological
advancements (Allan 1998; Hassing et al. 2009).
6
B. W. Pandey and S. Anand