above. Fickle climatic characteristics both in time
and space are responsible for unequal distribution of precipitation across India. Scientific and
technically strengthened structural and nonstructural measures are required for mitigating
the droughts and floods. Mathematical models
and techniques with an enhanced meteorological
algorithm are needed for forecasting the monsoon rainfall accurately, which must be utilized
by the farmers and decision-makers for adopting
appropriate strategies for management of
droughts and floods.
Further, there is a need for increasing the
availability of water and reducing its demand
equipped with better management. Encouragement for better management of existing system
and creation of additional storages by constructing large, medium and small-sized dams in
consideration with the environmental, economic
and social aspects is need of the hour. Rejuvenation of dying lakes, ponds, rivulets and tanks
by induced-artificial recharge of groundwater
may further enhance the potentiality and availability of water resources. In addition to these
measures, inter-basin transfer of water provides
one of the best options for mitigating the problems of the surplus and deficit basins. A scientific
study needs to be carried out for establishing its
economic feasibility and technical applicability
with the consideration of the eco-hydrological,
environmental and social aspects. Integrated and
coordinated development of surface water and
groundwater resources and their conjunctive use
should work under the bottom-up approach from
the project pre-planning stage and should form
an integral part of the project implementation.
There is a need for proper groundwater resources
management, which requires adequate inputs
including financial, human resources, technologies etc. Improving public water supply, awareness, use of energy pricing and supply to manage
agricultural groundwater reduce the dependency
on agriculture and formalizing the water sector
are some of the measures for sustainable development of groundwater resource (Rosegrant and
Ringler 1999).
Considering anthropogenic changes, an accurate assessment of available surface and the
groundwater resources is needed for planning,
design and operation for watershed management.
Based on logical and scientific techniques, there
should be a periodic reassessment of the potential
of ground and surface water. Consideration of the
cost-benefit approach or quality of water available and the economic viability of its extraction
needs to be taken care of. An in-depth hydrological study is required in the contemporary
scenario for assessment of water resources under
changing climatic scenario. Strategies are
required to be formulated and implemented for
maintaining freshwater quality.
Adhering toward environmental flow rate, a
minimum flow must be maintained in the
ecosystem of the river. The eco-hydrological
approach based on the green and blue waters
concept should be involved as an essential part of
the water resources management practices by
balancing water between natural availability and
human needs. The concept of virtual water
transfer in water resource management can be an
essential step. Therefore, it needs to be presented
on the table of policymakers and academicians.
The capacity building and awareness campaign
must be prepared for making the masses aware.
Serious participation of people in water management practices has to be included. Developing
resource morality for making efficient use of
water resources has to be instilled in people
across all strata. Building capacity for water
resources is also needed for managers as well as
users and developers for updating and implementing the knowledge and latest technology in
the sector of water resources management. The
book is an attempt to address all these issues and
10
B. W. Pandey and S. Anand
and space are responsible for unequal distribution of precipitation across India. Scientific and
technically strengthened structural and nonstructural measures are required for mitigating
the droughts and floods. Mathematical models
and techniques with an enhanced meteorological
algorithm are needed for forecasting the monsoon rainfall accurately, which must be utilized
by the farmers and decision-makers for adopting
appropriate strategies for management of
droughts and floods.
Further, there is a need for increasing the
availability of water and reducing its demand
equipped with better management. Encouragement for better management of existing system
and creation of additional storages by constructing large, medium and small-sized dams in
consideration with the environmental, economic
and social aspects is need of the hour. Rejuvenation of dying lakes, ponds, rivulets and tanks
by induced-artificial recharge of groundwater
may further enhance the potentiality and availability of water resources. In addition to these
measures, inter-basin transfer of water provides
one of the best options for mitigating the problems of the surplus and deficit basins. A scientific
study needs to be carried out for establishing its
economic feasibility and technical applicability
with the consideration of the eco-hydrological,
environmental and social aspects. Integrated and
coordinated development of surface water and
groundwater resources and their conjunctive use
should work under the bottom-up approach from
the project pre-planning stage and should form
an integral part of the project implementation.
There is a need for proper groundwater resources
management, which requires adequate inputs
including financial, human resources, technologies etc. Improving public water supply, awareness, use of energy pricing and supply to manage
agricultural groundwater reduce the dependency
on agriculture and formalizing the water sector
are some of the measures for sustainable development of groundwater resource (Rosegrant and
Ringler 1999).
Considering anthropogenic changes, an accurate assessment of available surface and the
groundwater resources is needed for planning,
design and operation for watershed management.
Based on logical and scientific techniques, there
should be a periodic reassessment of the potential
of ground and surface water. Consideration of the
cost-benefit approach or quality of water available and the economic viability of its extraction
needs to be taken care of. An in-depth hydrological study is required in the contemporary
scenario for assessment of water resources under
changing climatic scenario. Strategies are
required to be formulated and implemented for
maintaining freshwater quality.
Adhering toward environmental flow rate, a
minimum flow must be maintained in the
ecosystem of the river. The eco-hydrological
approach based on the green and blue waters
concept should be involved as an essential part of
the water resources management practices by
balancing water between natural availability and
human needs. The concept of virtual water
transfer in water resource management can be an
essential step. Therefore, it needs to be presented
on the table of policymakers and academicians.
The capacity building and awareness campaign
must be prepared for making the masses aware.
Serious participation of people in water management practices has to be included. Developing
resource morality for making efficient use of
water resources has to be instilled in people
across all strata. Building capacity for water
resources is also needed for managers as well as
users and developers for updating and implementing the knowledge and latest technology in
the sector of water resources management. The
book is an attempt to address all these issues and
10
B. W. Pandey and S. Anand