2.4 Utilization Planning
This is the most important aspect of water resources. Water, in its natural form, is
not utilizable unless its flow is diverted or managed in order to meet the requirements of demanding sectors of agriculture, industry and life forms consumption
including aquatic life. Generally, the interventions are planned in terms of projects
of various sizes with smallest at field level and larger ones extending the management across millions and thousands of hectares.
We have already discussed the data requirements for yield assessment which are
directly consumed here. However, apart from that, there are additional data
requirements which are needed for planning a sustainable project. For any conservation project, the risk is posed by the floods and earthquakes. In case floods, the
data related to past storms and flood wave generation characteristics of a catchment
area is important inputs which determine the flood risk posed to the project at
varying degrees of probability. Large structures are difficult to replace and also pose
hazard to the downstream areas if the unregulated releases are made from them, and
very low probabilities and consequent risks have to be provided for in terms of
capacity. For small structures whose complete loss will not pose any significant
hazard and the replacement of the same can be handled without very high investments can provide for relatively higher probability flood values which are lower in
magnitude. Similar is the case for providing for the earthquake risks. For large
projects having significant hazard potential, seismo-tectonic data is needed with
geotechnical characteristics of the foundation and reservoir area for assessment of
the risk at different probabilities as described in case floods.
For sizing the project, the demands and supplies have to be matched at appropriate probability level, and accordingly, the estimate of demands from the all
sectors of the beneficiary region is required. This matching is of crucial importance
for the success of the project and is often skewed due to various social pressures.
Project planning also involves data from a large number of associated domains,
and being specialities themselves, we will focus on the data types directly associated with the water here.
2.5 Agricultural Water Consumption and Demands
Data from agricultural water requirements carries most weight not only in planning
but also in real-time operation of the agriculture operations with success.
Agriculture occupies largest share of consumptive demands for food and fibre
security.
Consumption of the water by crops depends upon the type of crop and its
variety, climatic conditions, input in the form of natural rainfall over the area, soil
characteristics of the fields and also the methods of application of water to the
140
A. B. Pandya
This is the most important aspect of water resources. Water, in its natural form, is
not utilizable unless its flow is diverted or managed in order to meet the requirements of demanding sectors of agriculture, industry and life forms consumption
including aquatic life. Generally, the interventions are planned in terms of projects
of various sizes with smallest at field level and larger ones extending the management across millions and thousands of hectares.
We have already discussed the data requirements for yield assessment which are
directly consumed here. However, apart from that, there are additional data
requirements which are needed for planning a sustainable project. For any conservation project, the risk is posed by the floods and earthquakes. In case floods, the
data related to past storms and flood wave generation characteristics of a catchment
area is important inputs which determine the flood risk posed to the project at
varying degrees of probability. Large structures are difficult to replace and also pose
hazard to the downstream areas if the unregulated releases are made from them, and
very low probabilities and consequent risks have to be provided for in terms of
capacity. For small structures whose complete loss will not pose any significant
hazard and the replacement of the same can be handled without very high investments can provide for relatively higher probability flood values which are lower in
magnitude. Similar is the case for providing for the earthquake risks. For large
projects having significant hazard potential, seismo-tectonic data is needed with
geotechnical characteristics of the foundation and reservoir area for assessment of
the risk at different probabilities as described in case floods.
For sizing the project, the demands and supplies have to be matched at appropriate probability level, and accordingly, the estimate of demands from the all
sectors of the beneficiary region is required. This matching is of crucial importance
for the success of the project and is often skewed due to various social pressures.
Project planning also involves data from a large number of associated domains,
and being specialities themselves, we will focus on the data types directly associated with the water here.
2.5 Agricultural Water Consumption and Demands
Data from agricultural water requirements carries most weight not only in planning
but also in real-time operation of the agriculture operations with success.
Agriculture occupies largest share of consumptive demands for food and fibre
security.
Consumption of the water by crops depends upon the type of crop and its
variety, climatic conditions, input in the form of natural rainfall over the area, soil
characteristics of the fields and also the methods of application of water to the
140
A. B. Pandya