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Experts feel that there is a need to create more storage facilities in India. In fact
per capita storage in India is much less than that of China. Construction of
major dams creates social problem. Moreover, most of the accessible sites are
already used unless the pricing mechanism are settled, construction of major
dams may lead to economic burden.
Watershed development program, mostly in association with NGO's have yielded
benefit in rainfed areas. There is increase in groundwater recharge,
construction of wells becomes feasible. Rainwater harvesting in the semi-arid
regions of India as well as in African countries are now become an integral part
of water management.
In the Indo-Gangetic plains in U.P., Bihar and West Bengal, groundwater
irrigation is most popular and covers more than 50% of irrigated area. Water
Management practices in the tubewell command is easier than in surface flow
irrigation schemes. Piped distribution system from heavy duty tubewells was a
matter of detailed experimentation by the State Governments under World Bank
assisted projects and the problems of tailenders were solved to a great extent.
Piped distribution system from distributaries of surface flow schemes are being
experimented in India. Introduction of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana on a large scale has
effected water management and also increased food production. Government
of India's strategy to reduce the water demand from 85% to less than 68% over
the years, keeping the space of development of irrigation and agriculture
productivity need careful scrutiny in each area for diagnostic and prognostic
programme, creation of low cost infrastructure and upgrading the managerial
efficiency.
Industrial Sector :
The demand for industrial sector will increase throughout the globe. Steel and
allied industries, paper industry are water intensive. Reuse of recycled waste
water in most of the industries is a compulsion because of scarcity of water.
While major industrial houses reuse more than 90% of recycled water, smaller
industries release the water in nearby streams/rivers causing environmental
problem. In Israel, waste water is used compulsorily for agriculture. In USA,
EPA does not allow release of waste water not properly treated. Most of the
industries in the advanced countries reuse the industrial effluents.
