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| Titel |
The Indus basin in the framework of current and future water resources management |
| VerfasserIn |
A. N. Laghari, D. Vanham, W. Rauch |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 16, no. 4 ; Nr. 16, no. 4 (2012-04-02), S.1063-1083 |
| Datensatznummer |
250013250
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-16-1063-2012.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The Indus basin is one of the regions in the world that is faced with major
challenges for its water sector, due to population growth, rapid
urbanisation and industrialisation, environmental degradation, unregulated
utilization of the resources, inefficient water use and poverty, all
aggravated by climate change. The Indus Basin is shared by 4 countries – Pakistan,
India, Afghanistan and China. With a current population of 237 million
people which is projected to increase to 319 million in 2025 and 383 million
in 2050, already today water resources are abstracted almost
entirely (more than 95% for irrigation). Climate change will result in
increased water availability in the short term. However in the long term
water availability will decrease. Some current aspects in the basin need to
be re-evaluated. During the past decades water abstractions – and
especially groundwater extractions – have augmented continuously to support
a rice-wheat system where rice is grown during the kharif (wet, summer)
season (as well as sugar cane, cotton, maize and other crops) and wheat
during the rabi (dry, winter) season. However, the sustainability of this
system in its current form is questionable. Additional water for domestic
and industrial purposes is required for the future and should be made
available by a reduction in irrigation requirements. This paper gives a
comprehensive listing and description of available options for current and
future sustainable water resources management (WRM) within the basin.
Sustainable WRM practices include both water supply management and water
demand management options. Water supply management options include: (1)
reservoir management as the basin is characterised by a strong seasonal
behaviour in water availability (monsoon and meltwater) and water demands;
(2) water quality conservation and investment in wastewater infrastructure;
(3) the use of alternative water resources like the recycling of wastewater
and desalination; (4) land use planning and soil conservation as well as
flood management, with a focus on the reduction of erosion and resulting
sedimentation as well as the restoration of ecosystem services like wetlands
and natural floodplains. Water demand management options include: (1) the
management of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; as well as (2) the
rehabilitation and modernization of existing infrastructure. Other demand
management options are: (3) the increase of water productivity for
agriculture; (4) crop planning and diversification including the critical
assessment of agricultural export, especially (basmati) rice; (5) economic
instruments and (6) changing food demand patterns and limiting post-harvest
losses. |
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