Coastal reservoir strategy to enhance India's freshwater storage by impounding river flood waters: a detailed overview

Kolathayar, Sreevalsa and Sitharam, TG and Yang, Shuqing (2019) Coastal reservoir strategy to enhance India's freshwater storage by impounding river flood waters: a detailed overview. In: WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-WATER SUPPLY, 19 (3). pp. 703-717.

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Abstract

This paper revisits the water resource scenario in India and presents the adequacy of the coastal reservoir concept to address water scarcity by impounding excess river flood waters. Although there has been no significant change in India's rainfall pattern in the last 100 years, there is a spatial non-uniformity in the rainfall events that occur which makes it difficult to pre-plan large-scale water storage at different locations. This study highlights the fact that there is enough water available but the deficiency is in storage. A large portion of freshwater from river systems, groundwater and wetlands drains into the sea due to insufficient storage facilities. Coastal reservoirs enable the storage of excess river flood waters near the coast for future use. This paper discusses current water supply solutions available in the country, and the efficacy of coastal reservoirs along with feasibility implications. The associated rewards and challenges are also discussed. The paper presents details of existing coastal reservoirs worldwide and recent feasibility studies envisaging coastal reservoirs in India.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-WATER SUPPLY
Publisher:	IWA PUBLISHING
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to IWA PUBLISHING
Keywords:	coastal reservoir; India; runoff; sarovarmala; water demand
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited:	27 May 2019 07:08
Last Modified:	29 May 2019 09:27
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/62261

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