HYDRO-CLIMATIC MODELLING FOR INTER LINKING OF RIVERS IN INDIA: A PROPOSED EFFORT TOWARDS ITS EFFICIENT

MANAGEMENT

P.N. SINHA, L.J. BRACKEN, J. WAINWRIGHT and S. REANEYSchool of Geography, Durham University, DH1 3LE, Durham, United Kingdom.

p.n.sinha@durham.ac.uk

S2- EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPURPOSE AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER WATER PROJECTS

Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT)

• one of the most sought-after solutions for water and food scarcity and/or security.

• assure water supply to water deficit catchment (recipient) by extracting and supplying water from another catchment (donor) with surplus water through engineering solutions.

Pros and cons

• IBWT projects -multi-purpose

-have brought life and prosperity in many regions

• However these schemes have been criticised on several issues:

-grouped under five themes viz.

Five themes covering major concerns related to IBWT:

1. Uncertain Climate and Water availability, 2. Spatial understanding of Impacts, 3. Uncertainty related to Resilience and Sustainability,4. Cost-benefit distribution and cost-effectiveness 5. Stakeholder Engagement

…. and ILR in India.

Efficient planning and management of IBWT projects

• Widely suggested by scholars: Multi-disciplinary research covering major

related issues (explained under five themes)

As Inter-linking of River (ILR) in India is one such grand on-going IBWT project; therefore it can consider improvements based on such studies. Present study intends one such research.

Steps towards an integrated understanding of ILR in India:

Highlights in proposed research

Wider studies by NWDA – reports published in NWDA’s website.

However, no climate related studies have been carried out by them (or at least published!)

Climate change impacts the availability of Water (Rajamani, 2005; Ghassemi and White 2007; Majumdar 2008)

Majority of IBWT projects have not included these studies since this concept of climate change was in its ‘embryonic phase before 1990s’ (Maknoon et al.2012).

.. thus it impacts water available to transfer from one basin to another.

Present research • incorporate it and some other major concerns explained under five themes through a multi-disciplinary approach.

• ultimately aims to contribute in efficient management of such grand projects.

Figure:

Plan for proposed research to develop a tool for efficient management of ILR in India.

Proposed Research Plan

Participation in IWW 2013 comes under

this stage.

Himalayan ComponentPeninsular component

(Source: Amarasinghe and Sharma 2008)

Country level

catchment level

Figure: Case-study area with its location in India. (Based on Central Ground Water Board, India, 2011).

On the basis of the research findings, presented research aims to explore new ways to contribute in efficient management of such grand projects.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors highly acknowledge Durham University and Economic and Social Research Council, Govt. of United Kingdom for funding this research. Authors are grateful to India Water Week (IWW) 2013 team for giving opportunity to present this research plan

Suggestions are invited

You can also mail me at p.n.sinha@durham.ac.ukOr you can call me at +44-7450470840

Many thanks!