INSTITUTE FOR WATER STUDIES

( http://www.groundwatertnpwd.com )

Water resources Organization, 
Public Works Department

Tharamani, Chennai – 600 113.

Phone : 254 2380, E-Mail :  inwastud@md4.com 

Establishment of the Institute General

Water is indispensable for the existence and survival of life on Earth. With the advancement of Civilization, water has found a large and progressively increasing list of uses. Notwithstanding the paramount importance of water, many nations which have a fairly accurate estimate of their oil and mineral wealth., hardly know their total available water resources. The need for such an appraisal did not arise, perhaps because by and large it was not in short supply. But as the demand approaches the available supply, with a probable shortage feared in future, an evaluation of the total available resources and planning its optimum use becomes inevitable.

Already in certain parts of the world, we have reached or we are fast nearing the stage of depleting all our available resources. In other words, water is moving into the realm of economic goods. There is a growing dependency of economy of a Country as a whole on the availability of water. Conservation and utilization of water resources are inextricably bound up with the exploitation of the entire resources heritage of the region and the water resources have some influence on every aspect of national economy. In any country, the main sources of water are the following:

            i.       River and lakes

           ii.     Groundwater

           iii.     Atmospheric

            iv.     Oceans

Although water occupies 77% of the surface area of the globe, only a very small portion of this is readily usable by man as fresh water. It has been established that the total quantity of water existent on this planet is constant though it may be constantly under movement and changing from one physical state to another as depicted in the hydrological cycle and man has not found out yet ways of creating more water. Thus the total availability is fixed and the problem generally is now one of estimation of existing resources and their utilization. Accurate estimation, economical extraction and intelligent utilization of water resources are crucial in the development Programme of any Country.

Even advanced countries possessing plentiful water resources have started realizing the need for careful planning in the conservation, utilization and management of water.

The estimation of water resources potential of assumes greater importance under this background. Tamil Nadu has a geographical area of 13.058 Mha against the area of 3.28 Mha of the Country. The population and area of the Tamil Nadu is 7 % and 4% respectively of that of the Country but the available water resources is only 3% of that of the Country. The average rainfall is 925mm against the average rainfall of 1170 mm of the Country. It varies from 1200 mm near coastal area to 550 mm in inland area. In Tamil Nadu more than 90% of the available surface water and 45% of the ground water were drawn and utilized as far as in 1970 itself. But the demand of water is continuously on the rise with the growth of population, Industry and Agriculture where as the availability of water remains almost constant. The need for an integrated approach and planning based on the application of modern technology to initiate investigations and scientific studies on the various aspect of water resources and utilization was keenly felt. With this objective in mind the Institute For Water Studies was established by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu vide G.O. Ms No. 457 PWD dated 08-04-1974.

The objectives of the Institute for Water Studies are

1.                 (i)   Development of a set of broad principles for planning and management of water resources;
2.                 (ii)  Assistance in the formulation of water management policies;
3.    (iii)  Fostering or undertaking research related to planning and policy making in those areas where the needed work is not already being done and co-ordinating the efforts that is already underway;
4.                 (iv)  Development of training programs particularly in connection with water planning and policy making; 
5.                 (v)  Advice to Government on specific policy matters referred to it such as the development of principles for water allocation on the merits and costs of water diversion schemes and water usage schemes.

The functions of the Institute for Water Studies are:

    (i)    Assessment of water potential of river basins in Tamil Nadu;

    (ii)   Evaluation of water needs, present and the future;

    (iii)  Preparation of master plans for water for river basins;

    (iv)  Formulation of water policy and law;

    (v)   Identification of methods of augmenting and conserving the water resources;

    (vi)  Research and Development including conducting training programmes; and

    (vii) Publication of water bulletins.

In order to assess the water potential of the State river basin was considered as an hydrological unit. In Tamil Nadu there are 34 rivers including minor rivers and west flowing rivers. Institute for Water Studies for the purpose of assessment of water resources, grouped these river basins into 17 major river basins as furnished below. 

The 34 rivers and the 17 major river basin groups are shown in figs. (1) to (3) respectively and the individual 16 basins are shown in figure 4 to 18.

For the purpose of assessment of water potentials of the river basins scientifically and for formulating management strategies, the guidance and expertise of foreign on sultan was felt necessary. Further the necessity of training the Institute for Water Studies personnel in abroad to equip themselves with latest technologies and the acquiring of Modern equipments to analyze water quality etc. also was felt.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was approached for assistance for this purpose and the UNDP project was also approved by Government of Tamil Nadu vide G.O Ms.No. 303 PWD dated 15-02-84. The UNDP input for the project is 2.74 Lakhs U.S. dollars and the contribution by Tamil Nadu is Rs. 74 Lakhs. The project duration was 2 years. The project actually commenced in Oct 1983 with the arrival of first UN/DTCD consultant.

The development objective of the project was to assist Tamil Nadu in alleviating water deficiencies in the State by proper management and distribution of water resources for agricultural, domestic, and industrial use. The immediate objectives of the project were:

 To carry out assessment, planning, development, and management of water resources of the Vaigai River basin and the adjoining small basins of Pamber and Kottaikaraiyar Rivers on the North and of Gundar River on the South;

To strengthen the research and training facilities of the IWS;

To train and expose national professionals and technicians to modern techniques relevant to all aspects of water resources assessment, planning, development, and management.

The project was extended by 15 months, during September 1985 to have additional inputs, activities, outputs, with the following objectives  To enable the IWS to effectively support the World Bank financed project ‘Water Resources  Management Studies’ in Tamil Nadu:   To have sufficient information on water resources in the Pambar, Kottakaraiyar, Gundar, Ponnaiyar and Tambaraparani River basins for the Water Resources Management Studies Project. The UNDP contribution to the project was increased to US $ 466,000.

During 22 October 1986 Project was revised and approved by UNDP extending the project further by 16 months from January 1987 through April 1988, and added to the project additional inputs, outputs, activities, and the following additional objectives:

To enable the IWS to assess the total water resources and then identify the exploitable drinking water resources for the people in the drought –prone river basins of Tamil Nadu, such as the Vellar, Vaippar, and Nambiyar basins;

1.             To effectively support the World Bank Project IND/85/X01, ‘Water Resources Management Studies’ in Tamil Nadu. UNDP contribution to the project was increased to US $ 6,25,000.  The total UNDP input to this project was $ 6,32,497 and Government input was Rs. 86,70,000.

The list of UNDP consultants who had served in IWS and the total duration of their work between Oct 83 to April 88 under project no. DP/ UN/IND/82-058/I (1983) is furnished below.

Besides 11 of the staff of this Institute were trained aboard for a period ranging from Two months to Four 4 and a half months in the field of Advanced Hydrology, Water Resource management, Computer Application Modeling, Water Resources System Analysis, Artificial Recharge, Non-Conventional Water Resources, Wastewater Treatment and Recycling, Advanced Hydrogeology, Hydrogen chemistry and Advanced Geophysics. The project also strengthened the Institute with Buildings, necessary Hydro-Chemical testing equipments like Atomic absorption spectrometer, Scalar Analyzer, Digital Sampler and other equipments like flow measuring devices, Computers, Computer software's etc.

In the just described background of input of Foreign Expert Consultancy, trained personal and with modern facilities, the Water Management studies for the basins titled below were completed.

Assistance was received from this project in the preparation of ‘Ground Water Act’ for Tamil Nadu with the UNDP Expert’s assistance. Thus the Institute for Water Studies became a modern water resources studies center that can play a major role in the assessment, planning and management of the limited water resources. Some of the Major research project done by Institute for Water Studies are titled below.

Water Resources Management Studies (Phase I) Project

Under phase I of the Water Resources Management Studies (WRMS), studies were completed in Ponnaiyar, Vaigai and Tambaraparani River Basins from Sept 1986 to June 1989 under the guidance of UNDP/DTCD with the assistance of World Bank (Credit – 1454 IN) as  stated  earlier.

The International Development Association (I.D.A) had made available credit facilities towards the project cost under phase I. An amount of U.S. $ 1,318,000 was given to United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development by the World Bank to provide international expertise and equipments. The national counterpart expenditure was Rs. 60,98,000. The phase I of the project studies came to an end 30-06-1989. The Institute for Water Studies is associated with the management studies in other basins.

The project had two resident international experts and 9 short-term consultants.

A brief resume of work done under phase I by the Water Resources Management Studies Project is furnished below. The available water resources of the study basins have been evaluated.

1. 1.   The water consumption for irrigation, industries and domestic water supply sectors have been worked out for the base year 1986.
2. 2.     The water demand by 2011 AD for three major sectors of water uses have been assessed.
3. 3.      Pilot schemes for urban water supply have been prepared for each basin and water sources for these schemes have been tentatively identified.
4. 4.      The water quality conditions and vulnerability of aquifers being contaminated by indiscriminate disposal of industrial (trade) wastes and sewerage effluents have been reviewed.
5. 5.      The simulation model studies have been accomplished for the study basins and water balance worked out. The Institute for Water Studies has conducted training courses in the use and operation of  simulation model to the technical officers of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, Chennai Metropolitan and Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Public Works Department of Government of Tami l Nadu.
6. 6.      The water management strategies and institutional framework required for effective management of available water resources have been evolved for implementation.
7. 7.      The project evolved a proposal for the formation of “Water Resources Council” in Tamil Nadu to manage the water resources available in the state and submitted to Government  for further action.
8. 8.     The legal and Institutional Adviser has drafted a comprehensive draft “Water Resources Act for Tamil Nadu” to regulate and effectively manage the available water resources. This Act would provide a statutory backing  and institutional framework for development, management and conservation of water resources in the State  Water Resources Assessment  of the Palar River Basin

With the technical expertise gained after the completion of the UNDP project and WRMS Phase (I) project assessment of water resources of Palar River Basin was taken up with the funds provided by Tamil Nadu, from May 88 and was completed during March 1990.

Similarly the study of water resources potential of Parambikulam – Aliyar Project Area was taken up and completed between April 1990 and March 1992.

WRMS Phase II Project

Having been impressed by the usefulness of the WRMS (Phase I) project reports prepared by IWS, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board requested Institute for Water Studies to conduct similar Management studies for Vaippar, Nambiyar and Kodaiyar river basins, and an amount of Rs. 100 Lakhs was spared  by the World Bank under Credit – 1454 IN – Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

The project commenced on 20-04-1992 and was completed in Oct 1994. The project mainly aimed to provide sustainable drinking water sources to all Municipal and Rural Population.

State Frame Work Water Resources Plan of Tamil Nadu

The World Bank Mission during their visit in during 93 requested Institute for Water Studies to prepare a rapid assessment of the water resources potential of the remaining 5 river basins that were not assessed till that date, so that a State Frame Work Water Resources Plan of Tamil Nadu could be prepared for managing the water resources effectively.

Accordingly rapid assessment reports on “Water Resources assessment and Management Strategies” for Chennai Basin, Varahanadhi River Basin, Agniyar River Basin and Kallar River Basin were prepared during the period 1994  to 1995.

After completion of the water Resources potential of the river basins except Cauvery River Basin, the preparation of the State Frame Work Water Resources Plan of Tamil Nadu was taken up by IWS.

The State Frame Work Water Resources Plan main report and 20 number Annexures dealing with individual river basins and other aspects were compiled during 1996 to 1998 with updated details.

Before finalizing the Frame Work Water Resources Plan, ‘Stake holders’ meetings were conducted in each river basins to obtain the views of local officers of water using departments regarding the problems faced in the basin, the water requirement of their department in meeting the needs of the concerned sector, etc. The local farmers were invited to these ‘Stake Holders’ meetings and the views expressed by them were taken into consideration while preparing the State Frame Work Water Resources Plan (SFWWRP) Reports. In total 18 number of stake Holders meeting were held at the rate of minimum of one meeting in each river basin as furnished below:

A one-day seminar was held during Aug.99 at Institute for Water Studies inviting all the Water Using Departments in order to obtain their views and suggestions for improving the contents of this report. Besides Government Departments, Professors from Universities and others participated in the meeting.

Based on the suggestions made in the Seminar, the Water Resources Plan was redrafted and a ‘Two day’ seminar was held at IWS on 02-05-2000 and 03-05-2000, in which the World Bank consultations also took part beside representation from Government departments, Universities and Farmers.

The views expressed by these Experts are now being studied and is being incorporated to the maximum extent possible.

Environment Unit.

In the context of ever growing demand of Water for Agriculture and Industries besides domestic water, it is essential to safeguard and conserve the available water resources from pollution as the reversal of this process once occurred is not only costly and time consuming but also some times irreversible.

Further, a number of new irrigation schemes are formulated and the existing irrigation systems are being modernized. These require Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment. Hence in order to give guidance and advice to WRO, an Environmental Unit has been established in the Institute for Water Studies on the advice of World Bank consultants for WRCP, with the following objectives.

(i) Advising the Government on all policy matters including preparing guidelines procedures and codes    contributing to new policy or legislation concerning environment;

(ii) Liaising with all Central and State Government and Non Governmental organizations concerned with    environmental issues;

(iii) Preparing list of environmental experts and reviewing Environmental Impact Assessment reports related to water resources projects before they are presented to the Government for approval;

(iv) Managing research programmes on environment aspects in basin with other Government research    agencies and universities and

(v) Maintaining data bank of surface and ground Water Quality information.

In order to assess the Environmental status of Tamil Nadu, this Unit has conducted 4 seminar in Chennai, Pollachi, and Tirunelveli and documented the present Status of Environment in the State.

The following reports concerned with environment has been prepared by this Unit

 Remote Sensing Unit

Realizing the importance of Remote Sensing as a one important tool for identifying Environment degradation, Pollution sources, land use patterns, areas suitable for groundwater recharge, onset of drought, flood prone areas, erasable soil area etc. apart from mapping of geological and geomorphologic features a Remote Sensing Unit was established during phase I of U.N.D.P. Groundwater project in 1968 under Chief Engineer (Ground Water) of P.W. D

Under the WRCP project   the Remote Sensing Unit  has been attached to Institute for Water Studies which has been assigned the task of Water Planning

Estimation of water resources (surface and groundwater) and management of available water resources in a river basin is made easier with the remotely sensed data like aerial photographs and Satellite data - Land sat data, Spot data, IRS IA, IB, IC, ID LISS, PAN, WIFS data and the recent Digital Satellite data. Delineation of water spread and estimation of surface water storage in tanks and reservoirs, occurrence and exploration of groundwater are greatly facilitated with the Satellite data. The Satellite data will be useful to identify landform, drainage, crop pattern, litho logy and geological structures, which are favorable for groundwater storage. The Remote Sensing data is also useful in irrigation management sector by identifying land use categories including total irrigated area, single and multiple cropped area, and principle irrigated crops such as paddy, sugarcane, groundnut, cotton, etc.

The recent advancement in Remote Sensing technology provides high resolution Satellite data of 5.8 m for PAN and 23.5 m for LISS III of IRS 1C & ID which can be used to update the existing various thematic maps to the maximum possible accuracy. Future Indian Remote Sensing Satellite to be launched before the closure of the TNWRCP will provide multi spectral data of 6 m spatial resolution and panchromatic data of 2.5 m resolution in stereo mode.

The GIS (Geographical Information System) capability developed in the Institute for Water Studies combined with Remote Sensing in TNWRCP is designed to feed the requirements of State level planning, monitoring of river basins, various projects, irrigation management and development priorities of the State. Remote Sensing techniques will be applied to generate required data inputs to GIS.

Modern Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing software - ERDAS IMAGINE ERMAPPER, ILWIS and GIS software - ARC/INFO and INTERGRAPH are available for data processing, interpretation and thematic map preparation. 

A). Maps Prepared

The following district-wise and taluk-wise thematic maps were prepared on 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 scales for the State.

1.Geological maps

2.Geomorphological maps

3.Lineament/Tectonic/Structural maps

4.Landuse maps

The above thematic maps were also prepared for all the river basins of Tamil Nadu except Cauvery river basin on 1:250,000 scale. To facilitate groundwater potential estimation block-wise maps on 1:50,000 scale were also prepared.

Land sat colour mosaic on 1:1000000 scale and 1:500000 scale were prepared using false colour composites (FCC) for Tamil Nadu State. A lineament map on 1:1000000 scale of Tamil Nadu was also prepared by visual interpretation of Satellite data which identify lineaments of probable faults, fault zones, fractures, circular features etc. that controls the groundwater occurrence and movement in the hard rock regions to serve as basic data for the  delineation of groundwater potential zones and for dug/bore well drilling.

During the periods of drought, the lineament/tectonic maps and geomorphologic maps have been found to be of immense use especially in delineating the areas suitable for groundwater development and for locating sites for drilling bore wells.

B). Projects Completed

Remote Sensing Unit carried out several projects with Governmental Agencies like Space Application Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad (1978), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad (1978-1979), School of Earth Sciences, Bharathidhasan University, Tiruchy (1989), State Landuse Board, State Planning Commission (1995-1998), etc. using remotely sensed data and field studies.

i). Project with Space Application Centre (SAC),  ISRO.

This Remote Sensing Unit carried out a project on ‘Integrated Resources Survey in Ponnaiyar river basin using remotely sensed data’ with co-ordinating agency - Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad as a joint venture. The thermal images and aerial image data (black & white in four bands) on 1:63360 scale was also taken during the study and was used in evaluating the resources of the Ponnaiyar river basin. Field studies were also conducted during the flight period to correlate the aerial and field data. The following studies and maps were made in the above project along with several field checks.

1.      Surface hydrology, surface water availability, water balance, and development.

2.      A geomorphologic map of the basin was prepared.

3.      Lineament and tectonic map showing significance groundwater occurrence. 

4.      Land use map showing ayacut, non-ayacut, barren lands, crops, etc. 

5.      Identification of mineral occurrence and structures. 

6.      Hydro geological map 

7.      Two volumes of Atlas showing thematic maps of Ponnaiyar river basin.

ii). Project with National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA).

National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) conducted a Regional Remote Sensing Survey covering Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram and parts of Madurai districts of Southern Tamil Nadu at the request of Government of Tamil Nadu.  The total area covered is about 35,000 Sq. km. This project was co-ordinated by the Remote Sensing Unit of Groundwater wing of PWD.

The following thematic maps were prepared with limited field check

1.      Lineament map 

2.      Geomorphologic map

3.      Soil map (by digital analysis)

4.      Land use map (by digital analysis)

5.      Map showing groundwater potential zones.

As a follow up work, the department conducted detailed studies in the following test sites and evaluated the hydrogeological conditions to confirm the findings of NRSA and to map the micro level hydro geological features.

1.      Cumbum valley of Theni district.

2.      Alagar hills area of Madurai district.

3.      Watrap of Virudhunagar district.

4.      Paramakudi areas of Ramanathapuram district.

5.      Tambaraparani flood plains of Tirunelveli district

6.      Mahendragiri bazada area of Kanyakumari district.

iii). Reasons and remedies for salutation in Peranai Regulator – Vagai Irrigation System, Tamil Nadu.

Remote Sensing Unit  and School of Earth Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchy conducted a study to determine the actual reason and  areas of salutation in Peranai Regulator region using  Satellite and Air craft based remotely sensed data. Multivariate thematic maps like geology, structure, fracture and fault system, geomorphology, land use, slope, morphometry, drainage density, lineament density, gully and erosion density maps were generated. These maps were put into integrated study and the actual areas of salutation were identified. The remedial measures were suggested to control the erosion in the Vaigai basin area and salutation in the Peranai Regulator by active afforestation, development of orchards, plantation, gully plugging and by construction of check dam.

iv). Project for State Land Use Board / State Planning Commission.

A detailed project study on ‘Assessment of changes in groundwater quality and land use environ in Palar river basin using Remote Sensing techniques’ environ in Palar river basin using Remote Sensing twas carried out to assess the land use changes in the basin and presented to the State Land use Board, State Planning Commission. This report has brought out digital elevation model of Paler river basin. Land use maps of the basin using aerial photographs for the year 1980, using IRS 1A Satellite data for 1988, using digital IRS 1C Liss III and PAN data for 1998 were prepared and compared to detect the changes in the land use and degraded areas using GIS software. Chemical quality variations of surface and groundwater between 1978 and 1998 were evaluated and the results were presented at five-year intervals.