A working group on “Minor Irrigation and Watershed Management” was constituted by Planning Commission, Government of India to develop and define broad contours of future watershed development projects that could be implemented during the 12th Five Year Plan. To give proper and adequate attention to watershed management related issues, a Sub Group on Watershed Management was constituted with following composition and functions.

Indian farming has grown on unmetered electricity that has, over the decades, led to large-scale transmission and distribution losses, theft and corruption.

Conjunctive use of water is always preferred from water quality, soil quality and water resources management points of view. However, it is observed that in real practice, it is extremely difficult to plan for the conjunctive use of water for different purposes and is more difficult to keep it in implementation for long.

The second national workshop of the NRLP research project, held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, on April 8-9, 2009, mainly focused on strategic issues of Indian irrigation that require immediate attention. The issues highlighted at the workshop contribute to a cluster of short- to long-term strategies for a perspective plan for the Indian water sector.

The methodology for ground water resources estimation is based on relatively sound scientific basis. It also meets adequately well the practical requirements for formulating rational ground water development strategies.

Sinking feeling: water demand has surged with increased rice growing in Punjab. Weak monsoon rains this year have exacerbated the shortfall
Punjab is the granary of India thanks to marvels of Victorian engineering such as the Roper Headworks.

International experts have called for urgent changes to the way water is used in farming throughout Asia.

Asia accounts for 70% of the world

A careful analysis of the computed Agricultural Development Indices for different districts of Orissa reveals that the four coastal districts (Balasore, Cuttack, Puri and Ganjam) and two districts of central table land area (Sambalpur and Bolangir) are agriculturally more advanced than other districts in the three reference years over three decades (1980-81, 1998-99).

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