The average annual rainfall in the country is about 1170 mm with an equivalent volume of rainwater of about 4000 billion cubic meter (BCM). After accounting for the losses for evaporation and evapotranspiration, the average annual water availability has been estimated to be about 1869 BCM. However, there is a very high degree of variability both in space and time. Owing to topographical constraints and hydrological features, only about 1123 BCM has been assessed as utilizable which comprises 690 BCM of surface water and about 433 BCM of replenishible ground water.
As per the assessment made by the Standing Sub-Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, the water requirement could be of the order of 1447 BCM by the year 2050 when the population is expected to stabilize. The requirement can be reduced with adoption of better management practices through improvement in efficiency. The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development has assessed that with introduction of better management practice the ultimate water requirement would be of the order of 1180 BCM by the year 2050.
We have, however, to be conscious that we are not utilizing our surface water optimally and it is a great disadvantage to us. We have to create facilities for storing water by completing all the on-going projects in a time bound manner and planning for new schemes. Storage sites provided by nature need to be utilized fully and optimally. The per capita storage capacity created in India as a whole is of the order of 207 cubic metres only which is relatively quite low compared to many countries viz. Russia (6103 cubic metres), Australia (4733 cubic metres), Brazil (3145 cubic metres), Turkey (1739 cubic metres), China (1111 cubic metres) and South Africa (753 cubic metres). A properly planned storage for water will definitely help in mitigating the effects of flood and drought as well.
S.No.
| ITEMS | QUANTITY (CU.KM)
|
1.
| Annual Precipitation (Including snowfall)
| 4000
|
2.
| Average Annual Availability
| 1869
|
3.
| Per Capita Water Availability (2001) in cubic meter
| 1820
|
4.
| Estimated Utilizable Water Resources
| 1123
|
| (i) Surface Water Resources
| 690 Cu.Km.
|
|
(ii) Ground Water Resources
| 433 Cu.Km.
|
|
|
1. World - Land and Water Resources at a glance
General
A. Sources of Water (Approximate) |
| Item | Volume (Million BCM) |
| Salt Water in Oceans | 1348 |
| Fresh Water | 37.5 |
B. Sources of Fresh Water (Approximate) |
| Item | Volume ('000 BCM) |
| Polar Ice and Glaciers | 28200 |
| Ground Water < 800 m deep | 3740 |
| 800 - 4000 m deep | 4710 |
| Lakes and Rivers | 127 |
| Others (soil moisture and atmospheric vapors) | 704 |
Land Resources
| Land Area (2002) | 13068 M. ha. |
| Arable Land (2003) | 1402 M. ha. |
| Permanent Crops (2003) | 138 M. ha. |
| Permanent Pasture (2003) | 343 M. ha. |
| Forest (2005) | 3952 M. ha. |
2. India - Land and Water Resources at a glance
A. GENERAL | |
| Geographical area | 329 M. ha. |
| Area as % of world area | 2.4 % |
| Forest cover | 20.97 % |
| Population as on 1.3.2006 | 1114.2 million |
| Population as % of world population | 17.2 % |
| Annual rainfall (2005) | 1208 mm |
| Major river basins | 12 |
| (catchment area > 20,000 sq. km) | 253 M. ha. |
| Medium River Basins | 46 |
| (catchment area < 20,000 sq. km.) | 24.6 M. ha. |
B. Water Resources | |
| Average annual Precipitation | 4000 BCM |
| Avg. precipitation during Monsoon (Jun-Sept) | 3000 BCM |
| Natural Runoff | 1986.5 BCM |
| Estimated utilizable surface water resources | 690 BCM |
| Total utilizable ground water resources | 433 BCM |
| Total annual utilizable water resources | 1123 BCM |
| Per capita water availablity | 1720.29 cum |
C. Land Resources | |
| Total cultivable land (2003-04) | 183 M. ha. |
| Ultimate irrigation potential | 140 M. ha. |
| Gross sown area ((2003-04) | 190.5 M. ha. |
| Net sown area (2003-04) | 141.0 M. ha. |
| Gross irrigated area (2003-04) | 75.3 M. ha. |
| Net irrigated area (2003-04) | 55.1 M. ha. |
| Food grain production during 1950-51 | 50.8 MT |
| food grain production during 2004-05 | 198.3 M.T. |
D. Hydropower | |
| Hydropower potential assessed (as on 31.03.06) | 84044 MW @ 60% LF |
| Installed capacity (2004-05) | 30942 MW |
| Potential developed as on 31.03.06 | 16032 MW @60% LF |
| Potential under development | 4714 MW |
| Large dams completed | 4050 |
| Storages in large dams | 213 BCM |
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