Assessment of water resources and seasonal prediction of rainfall in India

Abstract

From the analysis of rainfall data available at about 5000 stations, this paper is prepared to provide comprehensive assessment of water availability in different states of India as well as for the country as a whole. Changes in water availability per person are occurring mainly as a consequence of changes in population. The water availability per capita in India was over 6000 m3 per annum in 1951, it now stands at about 1900 m3per capita. Nevertheless, this amount is nearly twice the water need by the people of developed countries. The developed countries require about 1000 m3 of freshwater per capita per year. The increasing demand for water is in the 4 states of Haryana, UP, Bihar and West Bengal in the face of increasing population and possible changes in climate, the water available in these states is to be used most economically and judiciously so that the vagaries of nature do not put any severe strain.