Deriving Operation Policy for Multiple Reservoir System under Irrigation using LPM Model

Abstract

The specified multiple reservoir system is located in Rajkot district part of Gujarat. As it witnesses fewer, severe, moderate or normal drought, drought mitigation measures and proper reservoir operation policy should help to reduced acute shortage of water for irrigation as well as water supply. It is also observed that improper water resources management has resulted into reduced yield of crop and hence net income of farmers. The linear programming monthly (LPM) models developed for different nine dependability level of inflow for multiple as well as individual reservoir operation to derive maximum net benefit (NB) over year from command area. Most of reservoir operated at 75% dependability level in normal year. The NB and total optimal crop area increased by 4.2% and 8.0 % respectively in multiple reservoirs operation as compared to individual reservoir operation at 75% dependability level of inflow. The irrigation intensity is increased in command area of Nyari-2, Aji-3 reservoir in multiple reservoir operation as compared to individual reservoir operation due to augmentation of low cost, low water requiring crops (Rajko, Juvar/Bajry/Maize, Wheat, and Onion) which will reduce impact of drought in locality. However it can conclude that reservoirs are operated in multiple reservoir system at 75% dependability level of inflow as per derived optimum operation policy instead of individual reservoir operation to optimum utilization of limited fresh water of reservoir in drought prone area.