It could have been better if Mr. Biswas, in addition to explaining the problem, may have suggested some measures for improving the situation. Agriculture consumes the major portion of available water. The water use efficiency in this sector is only 40 - 50 %, which is very poor. I have suggested to Govt. of India to improve water use efficiency by constructing water courses (field channels) in the existing and proposed irrigation projects by the Govt. at Govt. cost, which is at present left to the farmers. It will greatly improve water use efficiency in agriculture sector. My second suggestion is that the govt. must ensure that cultivating high water consuming crops in the irrigation project areas be restricted as per design of canals and water availability, in a similar way the cultivation of opium is being restricted by the Govt. I hope if these two measures are taken by the Govt. of India and the state governments, the water requirement in agriculture sector will greatly reduce and water disputes can be settled amicably by the states. Lastly, instead of River Water Tribunals for individual rivers, a National River Water Tribunal must be created to adopt a comprehensive view of all water disputes.
Published by Yogesh Agrawal, Director (retired), Minor irrigation schemes, Water Resources Department at Govt of Rajasthan
It could have been better if Mr. Biswas, in addition to explaining the problem, may have suggested some measures for improving the situation. Agriculture consumes the major portion of available water. The water use efficiency in this sector is only 40 - 50 %, which is very poor. I have suggested to Govt. of India to improve water use efficiency by constructing water courses (field channels) in the existing and proposed irrigation projects by the Govt. at Govt. cost, which is at present left to the farmers. It will greatly improve water use efficiency in agriculture sector. My second suggestion is that the govt. must ensure that cultivating high water consuming crops in the irrigation project areas be restricted as per design of canals and water availability, in a similar way the cultivation of opium is being restricted by the Govt. I hope if these two measures are taken by the Govt. of India and the state governments, the water requirement in agriculture sector will greatly reduce and water disputes can be settled amicably by the states. Lastly, instead of River Water Tribunals for individual rivers, a National River Water Tribunal must be created to adopt a comprehensive view of all water disputes.