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An optimization model and policy analysis of water allocation for a river basin

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Abstract

The problem of inter-sectoral water allocation is investigated for the utilizable water in the Cauvery river basin in the state of Karnataka, India. This paper aims to maximize the total benefit of available and utilizable water while trying to ensure a certain basic water right for every individual. It also aims to meet irrigation requirements as put forward by government (central or state) in drought contingency plan. In this context, a novel nonlinear optimization model is developed which utilizes hydro-agro-economic data collected from multiple sources. This optimization model allocates the available water among different competing sectors which includes municipality, industries and agriculture. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis evaluates the economic impact of different parameters of competing demands such as water availability, population and basic water right (quantity). The results of this study reveal that the basic water right for essential needs can be ensured with integrated management of available surface water resources. This novel optimization model and policy analysis can be readily applied to other river basins across the globe.

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Notes

  1. Center water Commission (CWC) comes under Ministry of Water Resource, Government of India.

  2. Computed on the basis of the data available related to MSP, cost of cultivation, and yield for the year of 2010–11.

  3. 174 lpcd is per capita water demand as per BWSSB in the report.

  4. Source: Projected Population of Karnataka 2012-2021, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Bangalore, 2013, page 8, http://des.kar.nic.in/docs/Projected%20Population%202012-2021.pdf. Accessed on 17/6/2015.

  5. The estimates are based on the flow measurements made by Central Water Commission at KM Vadi, Kudige, and MH Halli measurement points that are up-stream to KRS over the period from 1980 to 2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Rural Management Anand, Anand, 388001, Gujarat, India

    Shivshanker Singh Patel

  2. Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Parthasarathy Ramachandran

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  1. Shivshanker Singh Patel
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  2. Parthasarathy Ramachandran
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Correspondence to Shivshanker Singh Patel.

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Patel, S.S., Ramachandran, P. An optimization model and policy analysis of water allocation for a river basin. Sustain. Water Resour. Manag. 4, 433–446 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-017-0124-5

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