‘Rainwater harvesting better solution for drought’ : Save that drop of water. “Catch rain where it falls” should be the objective to tackle water scarcity in the drought-affected districts than implementing mega projects worth several thousand crores. Community will is more important than ‘political will’ to take up activities such as rainwater harvesting. Declining Rate of Growth of Area under irrigation : While Gross Irrigated Area increased at simple annual growth rate of 3.12% during 10 year period ending 1995-06, the simple annual growth rate for the next 10 year period ending 2005-06 was down by half to only 1.16%. If full exploitation of the ultimate irrigation potential is realised, 80% of the cultivable area would be irrigated as against 40% irrigated area now resulting in doubling of irrigated area.

Agriculture continues to languish for want of adequate investment and policy support. The case for revitalising agriculture to meet the rising food needs of populous country like India is essential. The galloping food prices highlight the need to boost farm production and productivity through higher investment across the entire value chain. India is home to 17 per cent of the world’s population (one in six people in the world is an Indian), but has only 2 per cent of the world’s land resources and 4 per cent of global water resources. With robust economic growth, demand for land is expanding inexorably (for housing, industry and infrastructure). Land constraints are already being felt. A large part of the 160 million hectares under cultivation at present is made up of smallholder farms (80 per cent of farmers own one hectare or less). Agricultural land is under threat of a change in use and may shrink in future. Given the current socio-economic conditions of rural India and the fact that land is an emotive issue, the Indian policymakers should encourage contract farming without dispossessing and displacing local farmers.

The utilizable water resources of the country have been assessed at 1123 bcm, of which 690 bcm is from surface water and 433 bcm from groundwater sources
(CWC, 1993). Harnessing of 690 bcm of utilizable surface water is possible only if matching storages are built.
The irrigation potential of the country has been estimated to be 140 MH. The per capita availability of water has been steadily declining since 1951 due to population growth. The gross irrigated area in the country is only 87.23 MH. With an average irrigation intensity of 140%, the actual net irrigated area is likely to be around 62.31 MH, which is only 43% of the net sown area of the country (142 MH). Even after achieving the Ultimate Irrigation Potential of 139.89 MH. and considering the average irrigation intensity of 140%, the ultimate irrigated
area in the country would be only 70% of the net sown area.

With scanty rainfall hampering sowing of summer crops, studies by four IIMs have revealed that various states failed to utilise nearly 15 million hectares of irrigation potential created by the end of the Xth (2002-07) Five Year Plan. The studies found that out of 102 million hectares of irrigation potential created by the end of the Xth Five Year Plan, 87.2 million hectares were utilised -- leaving a gap of 14.8 million hectares. Studies have observed that the gap between the irrigation potential created and utilised has widened considerably through various plans. The studies had found lack of proper operation and maintenance, incomplete distribution system, changes in initially designed cropping pattern and diversion of irrigable land for other purposes as the main reasons behind widening of the gap. PTI120809
According to study by IIM, 14.5 mn hectares of irrigiation potential is left unutilized.

Satellite-based estimates of alarming groundwater depletion at 4 cm per year :

A satellite study finds that groudwater is depleting at the rate of 4 cm per year in four Indian States of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana,Delhi.

Annual rainfall was close to normal throughout the period and we demonstrate that the other terrestrial water storage components (soil moisture, surface waters, snow, glaciers and biomass) did not contribute significantly to the observed decline in total water levels. Although our observational record is brief, the available evidence suggests that unsustainable consumption of groundwater for irrigation and other anthropogenic uses is likely to be the cause. If measures are not taken soon to ensure sustainable groundwater usage, the consequences for the 114,000,000 residents of the region may include a reduction of agricultural output and shortages of potable water, leading to extensive socioeconomic stresses.The NATURE Journal, 120809

In 2007-08, many deltas in the world, including Brahmani, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Godavari