Water profile of India

Published: August 4, 2008, 1:44 pm

Updated: August 4, 2008, 1:44 pm

Topics:

Water

Rate:

Content Source: FAO

This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Avanish K Panikkar

Geography and Population

India is located in southern Asia and has a total area of 3,287,590 square kilometers (km²). It is the world's largest peninsula and the seventh largest country in the world. It is bordered in the northwest by Pakistan, in the north by China, Nepal, and Bhutan, and in the northeast by Myanmar and Bangladesh. In the south, it has some 5,600 kilometers (km) of coastline on the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal. The peninsula can be divided into three main regions: peninsular India, located south of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges; the plains of the Indus (northwest) and Ganges (north and northeast) rivers; and the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas. In addition, the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal are part of the territory of India. For administrative purposes, India is divided into 29 states and 6 union territories.

Map of India. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Map of India. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The total cultivable area is estimated at 183.95 million hectares (ha), or about 56% of the total area. The total cultivated area was estimated at 142.5 million ha in 1995. In the recent past, the evolution of cultivated area has presented two distinct phases. From 1950 to 1970, the cultivated area rose by 18%/year, while the cropping intensity increased from 111 to 118%. From 1970 to 1990, the cultivated area rose by 2%/year while the cropping intensity increased to 130%. The major cereals grown in India are bajra (spiked millet), barley, jowar (great millet), common millet, maize, ragi, rice, and wheat. The average cereal yield increased from 522 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) in 1950 to 1 457 kg/ha in 1992, i.e. an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. The average farm size is estimated at 1.57 ha, and the table 1 presents the distribution of landholdings in 1990-91.

India is the second most populous country in the world, with a total population estimated at 944.58 million inhabitants in 1996, increasing to 1,028 million in 2001 (73 % rural). The average density is estimated at 287 inhabitants/km², but varies from fewer than 50 inhabitants/km² in Jammu and Kashmir (northern state between Pakistan and China), Arunachal Pradesh (northeastern state near China) and Mizoram (eastern state between Bangladesh and Myanmar) to more than 500 inhabitants/km² in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal (northern states in the Ganges Valley), and Kerala and Tamil Nadu (states in the extreme south of the country). The average annual population growth rate is estimated at 2.1%. Agriculture contributed about 29% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1992-93, more recent figures (2007) showing 22%. It employs more than 65% of the labor force and is the primary source of livelihood in rural areas.

Climate and Water Resources

Climate

Table 1: Distribution of landholdings. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

India has a typical monsoon climate. In this region, surface winds undergo a complete reversal from January to July, and cause two types of monsoon. In winter, dry and cold air from land in the northern latitudes flows southwest (northeast monsoon), while in summer, warm and humid air originates over the ocean and flows in the opposite direction (southwest monsoon), accounting for some 70-95% of the annual rainfall. The average rainfall is estimated at 1,170 millimeters (mm) over the country, but varies significantly from place to place. In the northwest desert of Rajasthan, the average annual rainfall is lower than 150 mm/year. In the broad belt extending from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu, through parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the average annual rainfall is generally lower than 500 mm/year. At the other extreme, more than 10 meters (m) of rain fall on the Khasi hills in the northeast of the country in a short period of four months. On the west coast, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh the average annual rainfall is about 2,500 mm.

Except in the northwest of India, the interannual variability of rainfall is relatively low. The main areas affected by severe droughts are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

The year can be divided into four seasons (with regional variation to the extend of each season):

the winter or northeast monsoon from January to February;
the hot season from March to May;
the summer or southwest monsoon from June to September;
the post-monsoon season from October to December.

Temperature variations are also marked. During the post-monsoon and winter seasons from November to February, the temperature decreases from south to north due to the effect of continental winds over most of the country. From March to May, the temperature increases to some 40°C in the northwest. With the advent of the southwest monsoon in June, there is a rapid fall in the maximum daily temperature, which then remains stable until November. The temperature conditions are suitable for year-round crop production in the whole of India except at higher elevations in the Himalayas.

River Basins

Table 2: Internal surface water resources - average anual runoff. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Table 2: Internal surface water resources - average anual runoff. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The rivers of India can be classified into the following four groups:

the Himalayan rivers, which are formed by melting snow and glaciers and therefore have a continuous flow throughout the year. As this region receives very heavy rainfall during the monsoon period, the rivers swell and cause frequent floods;
the rivers of the Deccan plateau, which are rainfed and fluctuate in volume, many of them being non-perennial;
the coastal rivers, which, especially on the west coast, are short in length with limited catchment areas, most of them being non-perennial;
the rivers of the inland drainage basin in western Rajasthan, which are ephemeral, drain towards the silt lakes such as the Sambhar, or are lost in the sands.

For planning purposes, the country is divided into 20 river units, 14 of which are major river basins, while the remaining 99 river basins have been grouped into 6 river units, as presented in the table.

Rivers Flowing From or to Neighboring Countries

Several important river systems originate in upstream countries and then flow to other countries: the Indus River originates in China and flows to Pakistan; the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system originates partly in China, Nepal, and Bhutan, and flows to Bangladesh; some minor rivers drain into Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Water Resources

The two main sources of water in India are rainfall and the snowmelt of glaciers in the Himalayas. Although reliable data on snow cover in India are not available, it is estimated that some 5,000 glaciers cover about 43,000 km² in the Himalayas with a total volume of locked water estimated at 3,870 km³. Considering that about 10,000 km² are located in Indian territory, the total water yield from snowmelt contributing to the river runoff in India may be of the order of 200 km³/year. Although snow and glaciers are poor producers of fresh water, they are good distributors as they yield at the time of need, in the hot season. Indeed, about 80% of the flow of rivers in India occurs during the four to five months of the southwest monsoon season.

Figure 1: Water withdrawal. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 1: Water withdrawal. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The total surface flow, including regenerating flow from groundwater and the flow from neighboring countries, is estimated at 1,869 cubic kilometers per year (km³/year), of which only 690 km³ are considered as utilizable in view of the constraints of the present technology for water storage and inter-state issues. A significant part (647.2 km³/year) of these estimated water resources comes from neighboring countries: 210.2 km³/year from Nepal, 347 km³/year from China and 90 km³/year from Bhutan. An important part of the surface water resources leaves the country before it reaches the sea: 20 km³/year to Myanmar, 181.37 km³/year to Pakistan, and 1,105.6 km³/year to Bangladesh.

The Central Water Commission estimates the groundwater resources at 418.5 km³/year. Part of this amount, estimated at 380 km³/year, constitutes the base flow of the rivers. The total renewable water resources of India are therefore estimated at 1,907.8 km³/year.

Under the Indus Water Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan, all the waters of the eastern rivers, i.e. the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers taken together, shall be available for the unrestricted use of India. All the waters, while flowing in Pakistan, of any tributary which in its natural course joins the Sutlej main or the Ravi main after these rivers have crossed into Pakistan shall be available for the unrestricted use of Pakistan. This flow reserved by treaty is estimated at 11.1 km³/year.

India controls the flow of the Ganges River through a dam completed in 1974 at Farraka, 18 km from the border with Bangladesh. This dam was a source of tension between the two countries, with Bangladesh asserting that the dam held back too much water during the dry season and released too much water during monsoon rains. A treaty was signed in December 1996, under which Bangladesh is ensured a fair share of the flow reaching the dam during the dry season.

Dams and Hydropower

The total water storage capacity constructed up to 1996 was of the order of 250 km³, including 72.25 km³ from projects under construction. Seven dams have a reservoir capacity exceeding 8 km³. They are the Nagarjuna Sagar dam on the Krishna River (11.56 km³), the Rihand dam on the Rihand River (10.6 km³), the Bhakra dam on the Sutlej River (9.62 km³), the Srisailam dam on the Krishna River (8.72 km³), the Hirakud dam on the Mahanadi River (8.1 km³), the Pong (Beas) dam on the Beas River (8.57 km³), and the Ukai dam on the Tapti River (8.5 km³).

The gross theoretical hydropower potential has been estimated at 140,000 megawatts (MW) as installed capacity, or 84,044 MW at 60% power load factor, of which 75% in the Himalayan rivers. According to provisional estimates, the installed capacity was 21,645 MW in April 1997, generating about 25% of the total electricity produced in India.

Water Withdrawal

Figure 2: Origin of water withdrawn. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 2: Origin of water withdrawn. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

In 1990, the total water withdrawal was estimated at 500 km³ (27% of the country's actual renewable water resources), of which 91.6% for irrigation purposes (Figure 1). Some 19 km³ are used for energy purposes, and some 33 km³ are reserved for environmental and other purposes. The surface water withdrawal was 362 km³, while the amount coming from groundwater was estimated at 190 km³.

Wastewater and Desalination

Wastewater production was estimated at 25.408 km³ in 1996. Statistics on wastewater treatment in 1988 are also available for the major cities of India, where about 0.98 km³ of wastewater was collected, of which 0.60 km³ was treated (primary and secondary treatments).

Desalination of seawater is carried out in India on a limited scale. In 1996, some 550,000 m³ of seawater were desalinated in the Lakshadweep Islands, mainly through electrodialysis and reverse osmosis. Solar stills are also installed on the peninsula, as in Gujarat in the northwest.

Irrigation and Drainage Development

Irrigation History

Figure 3: Evolution of irrigated area. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 3: Evolution of irrigated area. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

Traces of irrigation structures dating back 3,700 years have been found in the state of Maharashtra. During the Mauriyan era (2,600-2,200 years ago), it is reported that farmers had to pay taxes for irrigation water from neighboring rivers. The Grand Anicut (Canal) in Tamil Nadu was begun 1,800 years ago and its basic design is still used today. In 1800, some 800,000 ha were irrigated in India. Following major famines at the end of the nineteenth century, major irrigation canals were built, and in 1900 the Indian peninsula (including Bangladesh and Pakistan) had some 13 million ha under irrigation. In 1947, India had about 22 million ha under irrigation. High priority has been given to irrigation with nearly 10% of all planned outlays since 1950 being invested in irrigated agriculture. This has resulted in about 0.6 million ha of new irrigated schemes being developed every year. About US$1,500 million are invested every year in irrigation programs in India. Figure 3 shows the evolution of the irrigated area from 1950 to 1993.

Irrigation Potential

Figure 4: Ultimate irrigation potential: source of water. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

According to the Indian definition, irrigation potential (called ultimate irrigation potential) is estimated at 113.5 million ha. This figure corresponds to the gross area which could theoretically be irrigated in a year on the basis of the assumed design cropping pattern and a rainfall probability of 75%. This figure is generally divided into 58.5 million ha for major and medium irrigation schemes, and 55 million ha for minor schemes, of which 40 million ha use groundwater and 15 million ha use surface water (Figure 4). These estimates do not include additional waters which could be used for irrigation if major interbasin transfer of water were undertaken. This project, known as the National Perspective Project, would increase the irrigation potential up to 148.5 million ha, 10 million ha being obtained by an increased use of groundwater, and 25 million ha by surface water. However, interbasin transfers of water would be expensive and require water-sharing cooperation between states.

Irrigation

Table 3: Irrigation by state and by choice. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The area equipped for irrigation is estimated at 50.1 million ha (1993). The breakdown by state shows that irrigation is mainly concentrated in the north of the country, along the Indus and Ganges rivers: Uttar Pradesh (22% of the irrigated area), Rajasthan (9%), Madhya Pradesh (9%), and Punjab (8%) (Figure 5). Another classification by origin of water is in common use with the Indian authorities. It differentiates irrigation from canals (34%, of which 97% are government canals), from tanks (6.5%), from groundwater (53%, the majority being tube-wells, generally privately owned and managed), and other or undefined sources (6.5%) (Figures 6 and 7).

Figure 5: Irrigated areas by region. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 5: Irrigated areas by region. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The development of tube-well irrigation, supported by investment in electrification and credit provision, has been the main driving force behind irrigation expansion and productivity improvements over the past few decades, particularly in the northwest. Private groundwater irrigation with shallow wells serving 3-4 ha currently appears to be the most cost-effective investment, partly because of government subsidies.

Irrigation schemes can be divided into three categories:

major irrigation projects, with a command area in excess of 10,000 ha;
medium schemes, with a command area between 2,000 and 10,000 ha;
minor schemes, with a command area of 2,000 ha or less (Figure 8).

The emphasis in irrigation development was initially on run-of-the-river schemes. Subsequently, the need was felt for storage projects for either single or multiple purposes. Minor irrigation projects generally have both surface water and groundwater as sources, while major and medium projects exploit surface water resources. In new major irrigation works, social, and environmental costs (resettlement of displaced people, loss of biodiversity in submerged areas, etc.) are taken into consideration in a more systematic way than in the past. A case in point is the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada River, built without external financial assistance due to resettlement terms considered too stringent by the national authorities.

Irrigation Management

Figure 6: Irrigated areas: source of water. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 6: Irrigated areas: source of water. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The main types of irrigation schemes in India are:

the warabandi system in semi-arid and arid northwest India where irrigation water is rationed strictly in proportion to farm area and supplied on a predetermined rotational schedule. Farmers decide on crops according to the expected water supply. Infrastructure and operational procedures are relatively simple;
the shejpali systems of western and parts of central and southern India where farmers obtain official sanction for proposed cropping patterns and are then entitled to irrigation supplies according to crop needs. Designed at a time when irrigation water was plentiful relative to demand, most shejpali systems are now experiencing difficulties;
the localization systems in parts of southern India which focus on locational control of cropping patterns. Low-lying areas are zoned for 'wet' crops (primarily rice and sugar cane), while higher areas are limited to irrigated 'dry' crops and more restricted water supplies. Such systems break down as head-end farmers in 'dry' zones take more than their theoretical allocation;
traditional field-to-field irrigation systems used mainly for rice in parts of eastern India and some delta schemes in the south. Continuous irrigation flows are provided, passing from field to field, generally without watercourses or field channels. Operating rules have often evolved and been agreed through local tradition, and where water is abundant, yields can be good. However, crop choice and cropping patterns are limited.

Figure 7: Irrigated areas: origin of water. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 7: Irrigated areas: origin of water. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

A broad distinction can be made between supply-based, or crop-to-water, systems that distribute water according to predetermined procedures and require the farmer to respond accordingly in terms of cropping patterns and areas (such as warabandi), and demand-based, or water-to-crop, systems that attempt to meet crop water needs (such as shejpali). In supply-based systems, the role of the irrigation department tends to be simpler than under demand-based systems that require the department to respond to changing farmers' needs with more complex and flexible infrastructures and more intensive management.

The first WUAs were established in the 1980s, and some 4,403 WUAs had been formed by March 1997 managing an irrigated area of about 397,100 ha under major and medium irrigation schemes. For minor irrigation schemes (mostly tube-wells), some 10,400 WUAs had been formed managing an irrigated area of about 50,000 ha.

The aims of the WUAs are: to promote and secure distribution of water among users; to ensure adequate maintenance of the irrigation systems; to improve efficiency and economic utilization of water; to optimize agricultural production; to protect the environment; and to ensure ecological balance by involving the farmers and inculcating a sense of ownership of the irrigation systems in accordance with the water budget and operational plan. The WUAs are formed and work on the basis of executive instructions/guidelines laid down by each state government. There is no central legislation or legal instrument in this regard. However, the only state which has passed legislation exclusively for farmer participation in the management of irrigation systems is Andhra Pradesh.

In many states, especially in the north (Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana), the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater has been practiced through canal systems and tube-wells or dug-wells to increase the yield and general efficiency of the water system. Water from the tube-wells, which are installed along the side of the existing canals, is added into the canals for utilization in the canal command areas. This practice helps prevent waterlogging but requires the adoption of good management techniques by farmers.

The average overall water use efficiency in canal irrigation systems is estimated at 38-40%.

Figure 8: Typology of full/partial control irrigation schemes. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 8: Typology of full/partial control irrigation schemes. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

In India, there is considerable diversity in the systems of levying irrigation charges (water rates). Except in Assam and the northeast states which do not levy irrigation rates, all states charge directly or indirectly for the use of irrigation from public sources. In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu there is no separate water rate for areas under old irrigation systems (including minor surface irrigation systems). Land irrigation by these systems is classed as wetlands for land revenue purposes. Being more productive, wetlands are charged at a much higher rate than drylands are. Within wetlands, there is a further differentiation by quality of soil and irrigation source. The difference between dry and wet assessment can be constructed as a water charge determined on the basis of productivity impact as assessed at the time of the revenue settlement. The last such settlement was determined more than 50 years ago and there has been no revision in the base rates of land revenue since. However, for second and third crops raised on wetlands using public irrigation sources, both states collect a water levy called irrigation cess. For systems constructed since 1947, they charge separate water rates for irrigation from public systems.

In all the other states, lands irrigated by public systems are charged separate water rates. As a rule, these rates are levied on the area actually irrigated; they are invariably differentiated by season and crop. In many states, the rates are further differentiated by categories of irrigation projects to allow for differences in the quality of irrigation as reflected in the quantum, duration and assurance of water supplies. For example, Bihar distinguishes between perennial and non-perennial canals, and between sources which are assured and those which are not. Even more elaborate classifications are used in Orissa and Utter Pradesh. Within this general pattern, there are some notable variations in particular states. Thus, Orissa charges a basic water rate on all lands within the cultivable command area of a project for the supply of water, whether used or not, for the staple cereal crop of the area (generally paddy), and individual water rates for non-staple crops. Bihar makes a distinction between long lease, seasonal lease and single watering. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh make a distinction between demand rate and agreement rate.

Water rates are uniform throughout the state in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. However, in Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh rates vary within the state from region to region or project to project.

The water rates are higher for storage systems than for flow diversion schemes. Similarly, the rates for canal lift irrigation are generally higher (double) than flow irrigation when water lifting is undertaken by the government bodies. Where lifting arrangements are made by the individual farmers, then the rate is lower than the flow rate, as in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Thus, a number of parameters are involved in setting the water rates in different states, such as:

recovery of cost of water:
- operation and maintenance (O&M) cost only as in Gujarat and Manipur,
- O&M cost plus interest charges at the rate of 1% for irrigation purposes;
capacity of irrigators to pay based on:
- gross earning, or net benefit of irrigation;
water requirements of crops;
sources of water supply;
classification of land;
linkage with land revenue system;
combination of various elements stated above.

The 10th Finance Commission has adopted a norm of Rs300 (about US$8.5) per hectare as the O&M charge for major and medium irrigation works. This norm is to be increased by 30% for hill states (hilly terrain). Similarly, for minor irrigation which includes tube-wells, the commission has adopted a norm of Rs150 (about US$4.2) per hectare; again increased by 30% in hill states.

Irrigation Techniques

The development of sprinkler and drip irrigation in recent years has been considerable, mainly due to the pressing demand for water from other sectors, a fact which has encouraged governments and farmers to find water saving techniques for agriculture.

Sprinkler irrigation was not widely used in India before the 1980s. Although no statistics are available on the total area under sprinkler irrigation, more than 200,000 sprinkler sets were sold between 1985 and 1996 (about 65,000 for 1995-1996) according to the National Committee on the Use of Plastics in Agriculture. The annual growth rate of the sprinkler irrigated area in India is about 25%. This area can be estimated at about 0.7 million ha in 1996. The cost of installation of sprinkler irrigation depends upon a number of factors such as type of crop, the distance of the water shore, spacing, and nature of terrain. The approximate capital cost (excluding pump cost) ranges from Rs16,000 to Rs20,000 (US$450-560) per hectare.

Drip irrigation is expanding rapidly in India. This can be partly explained by the subsidies offered by the Government to adopt drip systems. From about 1,000 ha in 1985, the area under drip irrigation increased to 70,860 ha in 1991, mainly in Maharashtra (32,924 ha), Andhra Pradesh (11,585 ha), and Karnataka (11,412 ha). The drip irrigated crops are mainly orchards (39,140 ha), whose main crops are grapes (12,000 ha), bananas (6,500 ha) pomegranates (5,440 ha), and mangoes (4,750 ha). Drip irrigation is also used for sugar cane (3,900 ha) and coconut (2,600 ha). The average cost of drip irrigation development ranges from US$750 to 2,000 (Rs15,000-40,000) per hectare, but a farmer can receive a subsidy up to Rs15,000 (US$750).

Crops

Figure 9: Influence of irrigation on crop yeilds. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 9: Influence of irrigation on crop yeilds. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

Irrigation development has enabled crops to be grown all year round. The expansion of irrigation has not only directly enabled yield increases, it has also been the essential prerequisite for the expansion of the use of chemical fertilizers and wheat and rice HYVs. About 56% of total agricultural production comes from irrigated agriculture, which is approximately 35% of the net sown area. Furthermore, the spread of irrigation has also enabled crop diversification.

Figure 10: Evolution of irrigated areas by crop. (Source: <a href='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' class='external text' title='http://www.fao.org/forestry/index.jsp' rel='nofollow'>FAO-Forestry</a>)

Figure 10: Evolution of irrigated areas by crop. (Source: FAO-Forestry)

The total harvested area was estimated at 66.14 million ha in 1993, which means an average cropping intensity of 1.32 on the irrigated area.

Crop yields have increased substantially, and irrigated crops produce much more than rainfed crops (Figure 9). However, irrigated crop yields are still low relative to yields under irrigation in other countries. This is mainly due to poor water management on the majority of the surface command areas. Irrigation is mainly provided on wheat (84% of the total area sown with wheat is irrigated), rice (47%), and sugar cane (88%). Cotton (33%), pulses (10%), and coarse cereals (10%) are also irrigated to a lesser extent. Trends show that irrigation has been used mainly for wheat (3 million ha irrigated in 1950; 20 million ha in 1990) and rice (10 million ha in 1950, 20 million ha in 1993), while coarse cereals and maize have not benefited much from irrigation (Figure 10).

Drainage and Salinization

Drainage works have been undertaken on about 5.8 million ha, which is 12% of the irrigated area. The average cost for drainage is estimated at US$280/ha (Rs10,000/ha). However, in the case of reclamation of soil affected by alkalinity, the cost is estimated at the rate of US$560/ha (Rs20,000/ha). Investment in drainage has been widely neglected, and where such investment has been made, poor maintenance has caused many drainage systems to become silted up. In the eastern Ganges plain, investment in surface drainage would probably have a larger productive impact, and at a lower cost, than investment in surface irrigation.

The total area subject to waterlogging was estimated at 6 million ha in 1976, including both rainfed and irrigated areas. This is thought to be a substantial underestimate though precise data are lacking. Some 2.46 million ha of irrigated land are estimated to be affected by waterlogging. Furthermore, it is estimated that out of the total irrigated area about 3.06 million ha are affected by salinity and about 0.24 million ha by alkalinity. Based on the extrapolation of data on individual schemes, it is estimated that on average irrigation induces salinization/waterlogging on some 10% (i.e. 5.8 million ha for the whole of India) of the command area (net irrigated area). Parts of northwest India and Uttar Pradesh are affected by a build up of saline groundwater. Measures to counter waterlogging and salinity are being taken by constructing field channels and drains, and by encouraging the combined use of surface water and groundwater.

According to the National Commission on Floods, the area subject to flooding is estimated at about 40 million ha. About 80% of this area, or 32 million ha, could be provided with reasonable protection. The total area provided with reasonable protection as at March 1993 was 14.4 million ha.

Water-borne diseases have continued increasing over the years in spite of government efforts to combat them. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have now become endemic for malaria on account of the high water table, waterlogging, and seepage in the canal catchment area. There are also numerous cases of filariasis.

Institutional Environment

Indian irrigation is dominated by the public sector. The scale of most schemes has necessitated government funding; the O&M of most schemes also requires public sector involvement. Government management extends to the chak level (plots of about 40 ha), and has entailed a large network of grassroots irrigation officials. The collection of water charges also involves a substantial government apparatus. India relies much less than many other countries on non-governmental bodies for scheme management, although farmers' organizations are encouraged to take over the O&M of small irrigation schemes.

Under the Indian Constitution, water is the responsibility of the states. Thus the federal states are primarily responsible for the planning, implementation, funding, and management of water resources development. This responsibility in each state is borne by the Irrigation and Water Supply Department. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 provides a framework for the resolution of possible conflicts. Many states, especially in the south, are working on solving the cross-border issues relating to use of inter-state rivers.

At central level (responsible for water policy in the union territories), there are three main institutions involved in water resources management:

the Ministry of Water Resources, which is responsible for laying down policy guidelines and programs for the development and regulation of the country's water resources. The ministry's technical arm, the Central Water Commission, provides general infrastructural, technical, and research support for water resources development at state level. The Central Water Commission is also responsible for the assessment of water resources;
the Planning Commission, which is responsible for the allocation of financial resources required for various programs and schemes of water resources development to the states as well as to the Ministry of Water Resources. It is also actively involved in policy formulation related to water resources development at the national level;
the Ministry of Agriculture, which promotes irrigated agriculture through its Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.

The Central Pollution Control Board is in charge of water quality monitoring, and the preparation and implementation of action plans to solve pollution problems.

Following the agreement of 19 September 1960 between India and Pakistan, there is a joint commission for the Indus basin. Similar arrangements exist between Nepal and India for the exploitation of the Kosi River (1954, 1966) and the Gandak River (1959). Although an India-Bangladesh commission was set up for the regulation of the Ganges River, it has never been operational.

Trends in Water Resources Management

Water resources management planning should be seen in a context of foodgrain availability. Foodgrain production increased in the 1950s and 1960s due to increases in the cultivated area, and due to a tremendous expansion in irrigation and the use of HYVs from the mid-1960s onwards. Irrigation has also helped reduce interannual fluctuations in agriculture output and India's vulnerability to drought. One of the goals of Indian policy is now to find ways of maintaining the same level of foodgrain availability per inhabitant in a context of population increase. The development of irrigation schemes will reach its limits at the beginning of the next century. Total water demand will equal water availability by 2025, but industrial and domestic water demand are expected to rise drastically at the expense of the agriculture sector which will have to produce more with less water. Therefore, water saving techniques and improved water use efficiency, which averaged about 40% in 1996, are indispensable. Emphasis has therefore been placed on improving irrigation performance.

India adopted a national water policy in 1987 for the planning and development of water resources to be governed by national perspectives. It emphasizes the need for river basin planning. Water allocation priority has been given to drinking water, followed by irrigation, hydropower, navigation, and industrial or other uses. As water resources development is a state responsibility, all the states are required to develop their state water policy within the framework of the national water policy and, accordingly, set up a master plan for water resources development. However, by 1996, not much progress had been achieved by the states in this regard, and the impact of the national water policy is still limited by the lack of institutional mechanisms to plan, coordinate, and implement water development across state boundaries and among users.

Water quality is a major issue in India. Although in their upper reaches most rivers are of good quality, the importance of water use for cities, agriculture and industries, and the lack of wastewater treatment plants in the middle and lower reaches of almost all rivers cause a major degradation of surface water quality. Groundwater is also affected by domestic, industrial, and agricultural pollutants. The overexploitation of groundwater can also lead to seawater saltwater intrusion. For example, there is an inland advance of the saline-freshwater interface in the Chingelput district of Tamil Nadu, where a well field along the Korttalaiyar River supplies water to the city of Madras.

In 1992, the Central Pollution Control Board completed water quality studies in all major river basins. The pollution control action plan of the Ganges River basin was formulated in 1984 and has been enforced by the Ganges Project Directorate, under the Central Ganges Authority, to oversee pollution control and the consequent cleaning of the Ganges River. The water quality in the middle stretch of the Ganges River, which had deteriorated to class C and D (the worst class is E, the best A), was restored to class B in 1990 after the implementation of the action plan. A similar program for the Yamuna River is in the pipeline, and a national river action plan is being drawn up to clean the heavily polluted stretches of the major rivers of the country.

India has the second largest irrigated area in the world, but due to the rapid expansion of irrigation with its emphasis on new construction, irrigation performance and the sector's increasing management needs have not received adequate attention. The development impact of irrigation has been well below its potential, and deficiencies in implementation have accumulated over time. A study by the World Bank mentions four points for concern:

Irrigation productivity is low. The non-optimal distribution of water results in low yields and cropping intensity and reduced opportunities for diversifying agriculture as do deficiencies in agricultural extension, limited research on irrigation technology, insufficient piloting of innovations, poor project design and preparation, and deteriorating infrastructure.
The sustainability of irrigation investment is put in doubt by a decline in the maintenance of infrastructure and in the quality of construction. Rehabilitation requirements represent an increasing part of construction investment and environmental problems are mounting.
A sharp financial deterioration of the sector poses a threat. Lack of control of expenditure and works in the past decade have resulted in unproductive staff growth and wastage.
The domination of the sector by public authorities does not leave much room for private initiative, nor does it enable responsibilities to be allocated in the most effective way.

Citation

FAO (Content Source);Avanish K Panikkar (Topic Editor) "Water profile of India". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 4, 2008; Last revised Date August 4, 2008; Retrieved February 8, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Water_profile_of_India>

Geography and Population

Map of India. (Source: FAO-Forestry)