Water resources and climate change: An Indian perspective

In recent times, several studies around the globe show that climatic change is likely to impact significantly upon freshwater resources availability. In India, demand for water has already increased manifold over the years due to urbanization, agriculture expansion, i-creasing population, rapid industrialization and eco-nomic development. At present, changes in cropping pattern and land-use pattern, over- xploitation of water storage and changes in irrigation and drainage are modifying the hydrological cycle in many climate re-gions and river basins of India. An assessment of the availability of water resources in the cont xt of future national requirements and expected impacts of climate change and its variability is critical for relevant natio-nal and regional long-term development strategies and sustainable development. This article examines the po-tential for sustainable development of surface water and groundwater resources within the constraints im-posed by climate change and future research needs in