Online published on 19 September, 2014.
The battle for food self sufficiency, using Dam storages, canal irrigation and green revolution technologies. Road ahead for energy, water and technology security, presents challenges: India population growth is estimated to stabilize itself by 2050, to between 1581 m and 1346 m. The urban population could at that time, vary between 646m and 971 m. and total food requirements could vary between 449 m tonne and 382 m tonne, which will be about double of the present production. Av annual runoff potential of rivers/surface flows in the country are CURRENTLY estimated at 1869 b.cum. Water demand by 2050, is estimated to range 1180 BCM by 2050, of this these, future fresh water withdrawals primarily for agriculture, at 26%,while drinking water needs may touch 111BCM, (predominantly for new urban water demands). The overall demand of water is proposed to be met by both surface and ground waters, conjunctively or alone extraction basis. The present decade is likely to make higher use of ground waters in irrigation and drinking water supplies, than in the past. Surface water will in most likelihood play a greater role in hydro-energy generation and other uses.
The water cycle; fresh waters for drinking, for irrigation, hydro-generation, energy for ground water extractions, environment and recreation and of other needs, energy and technology for treatment of waste waters for reuse form part of new water plan. India is awake to suppressed demand of electrical energy for its large population, for inputs into growth of agriculture, food production, animal husbandry, afforestation, industry, energy and environment, for other uses. The planning in hand recognises, existence of the threats of climate change, the increasing disasters and conservation needs of biomass and, biodiversity. The technology gradually moves from water gravity feeds to energy- base pumping and piping based supplies.
