Emerging Water Resources Management Trends to Attain Sustainable Water Resources Development in the Cauvery Delta Watershed - Tamil Nadu, India

摘要

Cauvery delta watershed (10°16’ to 11°30’N; 78°45’ to 79°51’ E) is an ancient delta located in the easternrnmiddle region of Tamil Nadu state, India, bordering Bay of Bengal on the eastern side. This delta is the tailrnend region of the Cauvery basin. It is the granary of this state with rich culture, architecture, arts and finernarts. But due to the recent water crisis, the farmers of this delta are migrating to industrial towns to seekrntheir livelihood security as ‘water refugees’. The emerging water management trends in this watershedrnsuggest that it could be possible to improve the present water resources to about 272 TMC (7.70 km~3) fromrn5TMC (0.14 km~3) and supply 1,458 m~3 per capita water per annum. Rainwater harvesting and artificialrngroundwater recharge approaches are likely to play a bigger role in providing sufficient quantity of water tornthis watershed.