Accepted Papers - 3.pdf - UNESCO

end uses and the intentional management of water
demands must now be considered major tools for
meeting future water needs, particularly in waterscarce
regions where extensive infrastructure
already exists. There is great a potential for
improving the “water efficiency” with which we
produce food, by changing cropping patterns toward
crops that require less water per calorie to produce,
by reducing wasteful applications of water, by cutting
losses between the field and the source, and by
cutting diets.
4. Water engineers should begin a systematic
re-examination of engineering designs, operating
rules, contingency plans, and water allocation policies
under a wider range of climate conditions and
extremes than has been used traditionally. For
example, the standard engineering practice of
designing for the worst case historical observational
record may no longer be adequate. Recent flooding
in Mumbai and the desert State of Rajasthan are
examples.
5. Cooperation between the water resources
development agencies and leading scientific
organizations can facilitate the exchange of
information on the state-of-the-art thinking about
climate change and impacts on water resources.
6. The timely flows of information among the
scientific global change community, the public, and
the water-management community are valuable.
Such lines of communication need to be developed
and expanded.
7. Traditional and alternative forms of new
supply, already being considered by the water
agencies, can play a role in addressing changes in
both demands and supplies caused by climate
changes and variability. Options to be considered
include wastewater reclamation and reuse, water
marketing and transfers, and even limited
desalinization where less costly alternatives are not
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available and where water prices are high. None of
these alternatives, however, is likely to alter the trend
toward higher water costs.
8. Prices and markets are increasingly important
for balancing supply and demand. Because new
construction and new concrete projects can be
expensive, environmentally damaging, and politically
controversial, the proper application of economics
and water management can provide incentives to
use less and produce more. Among the new tools
being successfully explored are water banking and
conjunctive use of groundwater.
9. Even without climate change, efforts are
needed to update and improve legal tools for
managing and allocating water resources. Water is
managed in different ways in different places around
the country, leading to complex and often conflicting
water laws. Lat’s remember that water is a State
subject in India.
10. The reliability of ground water as the most
dependable source of irrigation has led to its overexploitation
in many parts of the country. The
development of this resource has not been uniform.
The reason for this can be technical, socio-economic
or political, but the non-uniform growth has created
some management problems. Demand side
management specially related to regulation, licensing,
policing etc. are difficult to implement and are not
appreciated by the users and public representatives.
Supply side management of ground water resources
and its augmentation through artificial recharge and
rainwater harvesting would possibly bring positive
results by increasing the water availability. Society
and the common man need to be activated so that
adequate water supply is ensured to everybody
throughout the year. Rainwater harvesting schemes
may be mandatory to all new buildings countrywide
and the public needs to appreciate its advantages
and necessity.