Problems Related to Coordinated Control and Management of Land and Water Resources — Some Perceptions Derived from the Indian Experience

Abstract

Developing countries, faced with the twin problems of poverty and rapidly growing populations, must give the highest priority to the optimum mangement of their natural resources of land and water, which constitute their basic life-support systems. The management of these resources must necessarily be attempted in an integrated manner, so closely and inextricably are they inter-linked with each other. However, since the soil is an irreplacable and non-renewable resource and since proper soil and land management automatically results in the conservation of a great deal of water, it would be good strategy to pay special attention to this subject, particularly because it has suffered from serious neglect in the past. The afforestation of denuded water-sheds and waste-lands, the provision of adequate drainage in canal-irrigated areas and the greater use of ground water for irrigation must accordingly form an important part of all river basin development programmes.