Sustainable Development of Water Resources on Watershed basis

Abstract

Development of water resources is possible either through employing water conservation and water harvesting techniques at micro level or through diverting water into canals from dams and barrages constructed across the streams and rivers at macro level. In view of the adverse impacts of mega projects on environment in terms of salinity, water logging and other problems, the watershed approach to the water resources development on a micro level needs to be adopted. This approach is sustainable and environment friendly. An attempt has, therefore been made in this paper to highlight the favourable impact of watershed management approach and its suitability to Indian conditions. The paper is expected to help in formulating a hypothesis for developing an effective water resource development plan to fill in the gaps in data base and procedural aspects for water resource development at watershed level.