Watershed Management: An overview

Abstract

Water is an important and essential factor necessary for the survival of the human life. Water resource is a natural resource and depends on the rainfall every year. Water bodies cover 2/3rd of the earth’s surface of our planet. Out of 70.7%, only 0.052% is fresh water whereas remaining is salt/sea water. The potable water available on the earth is very less and hence there is an urgent need to protect and manage the available potable water resource for effective use for human life. Watershed Management is a concept which directs and coordinates the use of land and water resources for its optimum utilization. Watershed management is sustainable distribution of resources and the involves various processes which includes creation and implementation of various plans, projects, programs etc. to sustain and enhance utility of water resources for different living beings and organisms. This paper presents an overview of watershed management, different development programmes in it and the efforts of Government of India in this direction.