Computation of Different sectors of Water Demand in the Guntur Channel Command Area, Andhra Pradesh, India (2010-17)

Abstract

Water is a critical resource for development of other resources. The assessment of available water resources and demand of water for various purposes is of utmost important without which it is difficult to prepare any developmental plan. Guntur channel is selected as study area to determine the availability of canal water and estimate water demand of all sectors of water use in a command area i.e., agricultural water demand of all crops grown in command, domestic water demand and livestock demand were also estimated. The highest irrigation intensity was noticed during the year 2011-12 as 90.62%. Total Agricultural irrigated water demand was highest in year 2011-12 as 96.2 MCM. Three scenarios were proposed in order to check the canal water supply is adequate to meet the demands of different sectors of water use. In existing scenario highest amount of deficit flows (-19.00, -44.93, -76.97 and -21.56) were observed during the year 2013-14 to 2016-17. If the drinking water demand of Guntur Municipality was met from the other source, then there is possibility of commanding entire area by practicing water management technologies.