Regional Water Resources Disparities in Rajasthan: A Geographical Analysis

The present paper is an attempt to analyse the spatial patterns of regional disparities, variations in the levels of water resources development and casual relationship between water resources development (dependent variable) and selected variables of regional disparities (independent variables) among the districts in the state of Rajasthan. The study utilises published data obtained from Census of India and Rajasthan and other statistical records at district level. Some standard statistical techniques are used in the present study.

Rajasthan is the driest state in the country and is water scarce (having per capita water availability below 1, 000 m³/year) precarious situation, the state has to face regarding water availability. With prevailing high growth rate of population, the per capita water availability is going to further reduce to alarmingly low levels, implying that the challenges for water sector are much more and severe in the state.

Rajasthan, with varied climatic conditions, shows inter-district water disparities. The districts of the state are covered under arid, semi-and and per-humid situation depending on rainfall and moisture index. They have different potential for development in different sectors of economy. This study on regional-water disparities in Rajasthan was undertaken with the main objective to measure inter-district disparities prevalent in various indicators of the economy and livelihood to take necessary measures to reduce inter-regional disparities. Although this study covers year 2011–2014 to make a comparison also in the process of economic development of the state, the study covered all the 33 districts of the state (new district of Pratapgarh was included in Chittorgarh, as separate data for this district were not available for all parameters).