Water Management In India
India is one of the world's most water-stressed countries. In 1950, India had 3000 - 4000 cubic meters of water per person. Today, it has fallen to around 1000 cubic meters largely due to population growth. China, by contrast, has twice the amount of water per person to about 2000 cubic meters.
Growing competition over finite water resources compounded by climate change have serious complications for India's food security, as well as for the livelihood of its farmers and for the country's economic development.
India's water resources are not evenly distributed. Half of India's annual precipitation falls in 15 rain soaked days, making floods and drought a fact of life in the country. India does not so much face
a water crisis as a water management crisis, calling for a fundamental reassessment of the way country manages water.
Since 2000,.around $ 3.4 Billion in World Bank support has helped 36 million people in 40,000 villages gain better access to drinking water. Strong community involvement has lowered cost of
infrastructure, curbed leakage of food and led to more savings for the state exchequer. There are six areas where World Bank is supporting India's efforts to better manage its water resources.
1. Providing drinking water to Rural areas.
2. Groundwater affordability.
3. Improving access to water on dry rainfed lands.
4. Cleaning the Ganga.
5. Managing Floods and Droughts.
6. Enhancing Dam safety in India.
How Dutch People Are Managing Floods
Flood control is an important issue for Netherlands, as due to its low elevation, approx. 2/3rd of its
area is vulnerable to flooding, while the country is densely populated. Natural Sand dunes and constructed Dykes, Dams and Flood Gates provide defense against the storm surges from sea.
Dykes are embankment to Earth and Rock built to prevent floods. River dykes prevent flooding
from water flowing into the country by major rivers while a complicated system of drainage ditches, canals and Pumping stations (windmills) keep the low lying parts dry of habitation and agriculture.
Water control Boards are the independent local Govt. bodies responsible for the system. Dykes give
a solution to live with water and not fight with it.
In modern times, flood disasters with technological developments have led to large construction
works to reduce the influence of sea and prevent future floods. With more than half the country
at or below sea level, the Dutch are experts in water management and its people had to make
sacrifices.
In order to manage with economical and effective controls on floods, Govt. should consider taking the following steps -
1) Construct bends, curves, canals, digging up of River beds, new Dams and strengthening of old
Dams on the Rivers to contain floods, diverting it to feed Irrigation and barren land parcels.
2) Use Agriculture and household waste, concretize it with rocks, stones for making River dykes
to control floods. This will prevent pollution from spoiling the environment since it is now
understood that they are being getting burnt and causes harm to the environment.
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Growing competition over finite water resources compounded by climate change have serious complications for India's food security, as well as for the livelihood of its farmers and for the country's economic development.
India's water resources are not evenly distributed. Half of India's annual precipitation falls in 15 rain soaked days, making floods and drought a fact of life in the country. India does not so much face
a water crisis as a water management crisis, calling for a fundamental reassessment of the way country manages water.
Since 2000,.around $ 3.4 Billion in World Bank support has helped 36 million people in 40,000 villages gain better access to drinking water. Strong community involvement has lowered cost of
infrastructure, curbed leakage of food and led to more savings for the state exchequer. There are six areas where World Bank is supporting India's efforts to better manage its water resources.
1. Providing drinking water to Rural areas.
2. Groundwater affordability.
3. Improving access to water on dry rainfed lands.
4. Cleaning the Ganga.
5. Managing Floods and Droughts.
6. Enhancing Dam safety in India.
How Dutch People Are Managing Floods
Flood control is an important issue for Netherlands, as due to its low elevation, approx. 2/3rd of its
area is vulnerable to flooding, while the country is densely populated. Natural Sand dunes and constructed Dykes, Dams and Flood Gates provide defense against the storm surges from sea.
Dykes are embankment to Earth and Rock built to prevent floods. River dykes prevent flooding
from water flowing into the country by major rivers while a complicated system of drainage ditches, canals and Pumping stations (windmills) keep the low lying parts dry of habitation and agriculture.
Water control Boards are the independent local Govt. bodies responsible for the system. Dykes give
a solution to live with water and not fight with it.
In modern times, flood disasters with technological developments have led to large construction
works to reduce the influence of sea and prevent future floods. With more than half the country
at or below sea level, the Dutch are experts in water management and its people had to make
sacrifices.
In order to manage with economical and effective controls on floods, Govt. should consider taking the following steps -
1) Construct bends, curves, canals, digging up of River beds, new Dams and strengthening of old
Dams on the Rivers to contain floods, diverting it to feed Irrigation and barren land parcels.
2) Use Agriculture and household waste, concretize it with rocks, stones for making River dykes
to control floods. This will prevent pollution from spoiling the environment since it is now
understood that they are being getting burnt and causes harm to the environment.
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