Water Resources and Livelihood security and stakeholders initiative in Bhavani Basin– India

The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for linking hydrological information with aspects of livelihood issues in a river basin context in Bhavani basin, South India. A scrutiny of hydrological parameters and analysis of water allocation policies over a 50-year period show the dynamic character of water availability and the continuous raise and diversification in water demand in the Bhavani basin, Tamilnadu.

A prime objective of the research has been to illuminate the highly dynamic water resources situation over time in a semi-arid context and how the location within the basin influences the management options and livelihood implications. The research shows that the "privileged situation" of the surface irrigation sector, organized by the authorities, is challenged by powerful claims on "the same water" from urban based interests and also by an unplanned development of water use by individuals and groups in society in upstream areas. The relation between quantity and quality aspects and their links to livelihoods are demonstrated.

The incidence of drought is a recurring problem in Mahaboobnagar district. Along with this district, coincidentally, the whole of southern Telangana experience drought situation regularly. These recurring droughts had an impact on the economic-system of Mahaboobnagar and made it fragile. The age old system of traditional occupation such as agriculture, cattle and sheep rearing are decreasing, though agriculture still is an occupation of the majority of the population in this district, the changes in the cropping pattern or the decrease in water intensive crops are particularly noteworthy during the period of drought. Thus there is a variation in the output of the crops in the post-independent era in Mahaboobnagar. The reasons for such anomalies necessitated to the study of various aspects, particularly the resource endowments, of district in detail.

The areas formed on the cases for this study located in different parts of Mahaboobnagar district. They are deliberately selected to study the impact of drought and to know whether it is affected to the district uniformly or in different degrees.