Water needs to be managed globally as per capita water resources are shrinking with a growing population as well as erratic rains : either too much or too little, and in any case we let the freshwater drain into the salty oceans and seas. The key is to harvest the water wherever it falls and direct the excess water into the underground reservoirs which also are fast depleting.
I have recommended that waters be managed by creating an Indian National Water Pipeline Grid (INWPG) all across India. (See my website www.omdic.in.... under Services I offer…..5th Offering and click on the Link.)
Basically, what I suggest is that this INWPG be made out of heavy duty 2 feet & lower diameter plastic pipes which will be spread all across the country in a grid of water supply. The plastic pipes will be color coded based on the usage of water….For example:-
Color Blue: Fresh water for edible/washing (human & animal) purposes only. Color Green: Agricultural Water (Mixed with Fertilizers/Pesticides & Unmixed) Cater to increased yielding agros also as our current yields are shamefully low. Color Yellow: Industrial Water. Color Red: Polluted/Dirty water from other color codes, fit for Recycling, to be treated & resupplied into blue, green & Yellow code types of water and pipelines. Color Orange: Pre Flood Water management & control connected to Strategic ground water & other reservoirs, so as to Dissipate & manage water in Real Time and avoid a Flood scenario from developing altogether by pumping the water away into the Ground Water.
These plastic pipelines will drain areas of excess water to areas of less water and the INWPG will be managed by independent mainframe computers as well as dedicated satellites. Real time water situations based on forecasts also will drive the water flows in these plastic pipelines and could be directed basis crop requirements of water. These plastic pipelines will be laid in clusters of 2 feet or less diameter and will have right of way either on the ground, underground or above the ground and will be powered by solar pumps during the day and with battery or electricity back up during the night & will be guarded all along its length by personnel creating jobs all across the country also as well as all cross sections of employment.
These pipelines will then be connected to Plastic Green Houses which will have plastic pipelines based drip irrigation systems, growing all sorts of crops all across the country.
This INWPG would be more efficient then the River Connecting plan that is also doing the rounds as there will be no water evaporation, connecting canals would utilize precious land, farms alongside the canals & rivers would rightfully decrease the flow of water to its planned destination. Maybe no water reaches the planned destination as all the water gets utilized before only. Fresh river waters should not be allowed to flow into the oceans and seas subject to environmental conditions and circumstances.
Now do note, that I recommend focusing on crude petroleum based plastic/PVC/polymer pipelines & their Grids. This is because, if the industry moves to zero emission uses, crude petroleum capacities can be utilized to make these plastics/PVC/polymers pipe grid requirements. This will act as a catalyst to move crude petroleum capacities away from emission usages and, towards zero emission usages. It is to be noted, that most of these pipe grids can actually be made & executed in countries and areas where most of crude petroleum is produced & where natural shortages of water currently exist.!! …For example, in the Middle East. Note also that this project (INWPG) was developed in 2009.
A slight but relevant digression:-
Using these heavy duty plastics we will be able to make a 4 storey high farms. For example: on a 1 acre plot, 4 storeys on this plot will make available 5 acres to farm on; crops that mostly grow underground.
And it then goes without saying, that the potential of similar plastics in making green houses out of these multi storey farms, or green houses on other normal ground level farms, with plastic drip irrigation systems is yet to be realized. Another use in paper requirements can also be met by plastic paper.
This way current crude petroleum uses can changeover from refining petrol, diesel, and kerosene into making these desired plastic infrastructures, which should & would have long lasting shelf lives & would be welcome by the anti plastic & environment lobbies. The producers of crude petroleum would need their own capacities to run their own desalination plant water grids as well as their “Plastic Farms”!!
As Petrol & Diesel pump stations become useless, then these pumps can be converted to battery stations for charging and changing batteries for two & 3 wheeler E-vehicles, and as well as fruit and vegetable retailers (with E-Vehicle delivery services also) brought from the INWPG Plastic Farms & refrigerated by Solar systems during the day, and when required by battery or electricity during the night.