The Cauvery river basin in Southern India: major challenges and possible solutions in the 21st century

摘要

India is facing major challenges in its water resources management (WRM) sector. Water shortagesnare attributed to issues such as an explosion in population, rapid urbanization and industrialization,nenvironmental degradation and inefficient water use, all aggravated by changing climate and itsnimpacts on demand, supply and water quality. This paper focuses on the contemporary and futurensituation in the Cauvery river basin in Southern India, shared by different states, predominantlynKarnataka and Tamil Nadu. As water issues largely fall under the authority of the states, inter-statenwater disputes have a long tradition in the Cauvery river basin. Future changes in precipitation duringnthe two monsoon seasons will only increase these tensions. Both states depend on the arrival ofnthese monsoon rains to water their crops and to replenish the groundwater. The paper identifies thenmajor challenges and general possible solutions for sustainable WRM within the river basin. Itnsynthesises the relevant literature, describes practices that should be addressed in the scope ofnintegrated WRM – including water availability increase and demand management – and stresses thenneed for further quantitative analyses.