Techniques of water conservation & Rainwater harvesting for drought management

Not AvailableWater harvesting is the process of collecting rainfall as runoff from a larger catchment for use in a smaller target area. Different traditional and innovative techniques are available in different countries for runoff farming water harvesting, surface storage water harvesting and groundwater recharge. Water harvesting is of particular importance in arid and semi-arid regions, which are also drought prone. Rainwater harvesting measures if adopted on a large scale may alleviate water scarcity even during severe drought years. However studies which systematically describe water harvesting measures in different countries and regions, document successful experiences in large scale implementation of such measures and quantify their potential to alleviate the effects of droughts of different extremity are limited. This paper explores the utility of various water harvesting measures in the context of proactive approach to drought management and mitigation with examples primarily from South Asia. The paper suggests that large-scale application of water harvesting measures in drought-prone areas may be seen as a strategic tool for drought mitigation, if it is realized through the adoption of relevant policies and investments at different levels such as user, watershed, urban locality, district, state and a country.Not Availabl