Sustaining Subernarekha river basin

Abstract

Subernarekha is an interstate river passing through the Indian states of Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. The Subernarekha River basin is marked by conflicts among the alternative uses of water because of the inadequacy of the total water supply. An increase in water supply and improvement in water quality is felt to be necessary given the water scarcity in this region and because of widespread and extreme poverty. This was the precise objective of the multipurpose project started in the river basin in 1982–83. However, an attempt at simultaneous implementation of all project components has greatly reduced the benefits of the project. The project has also had some adverse consequences for the coastal environment and the quality of water. A careful study of the project and the institutions and policy relating to water lead to some suggestions. First, there is a need to check the over consumption of water through cost‐related pricing and greater efficiency in the collection of water charges. Second, the adoption of a project‐based engineering approach should be replaced by a comprehensive integrated management approach. Third, more hydromorphological information has to be generated and fed into the planning process. Fourth, good planning requires the inputs of diverse stakeholders.