Irrigation Canal System- A Potential Source for Water Supply in Nearby Water-Deficit Areas Located in A Semi-Arid Zone in India

Water is the most valuable element for life on the planet Earth. Its availability is, however, not equitable in time and space, leading to water scarcity at places, and it is a pressing global concern, specifically in arid and semi-arid regions. Some areas of Fatehpur Sikri Block in Agra district (India) are facing acute water scarcity not only for irrigation but also for drinking water. Notably, about 65 to 70% population of Fatehpur Sikri is dependent on agriculture. This study explores the possibility of providing water to the water-scarce area by lining the unlined Fatehpur Sikri Branch Canal (FSBC). These canals experience significant seepage and evaporation. These losses diminish the availability of water for other (more) essential purposes. The feasibility is explored by lining the branch canal and/or its distributaries/minors until a sufficient amount is saved without significantly affecting the authorized users of FSBC.
The critical annual water requirement of the water-scarce area (= about 5000 hectares) lying in Fatehpur Sikri block has been estimated as 4.60 MCM for drinking water and 9.13 MCM for irrigation using CROPWAT, totaling to 13.73 MCM. The losses from both unlined and lined canals were estimated empirically for the computation of water saving for diversion to the water deficit area. FSBC consists of a Branch Canal, a few distributaries, and a number of minors. Seepage losses were estimated for lining of (i) Fatehpur Sikri Branch Canal only; (ii) distributaries and minors only; (iii) a part of Fatehpur Sikri Branch Canal, up to 32.960 km (or 23 miles) only; (iv) Distributaries only, for effectiveness and construction cost point of view (v) partial part of FSBC up to 14.400 km (vi) selected minors only (vii) combination of all distributaries with selected minors only, and (viii) combination of all distributaries with a part of FSBC only. The canal was operating for 168 days in the study year according to the usual practice. The per annum water savings in these cases have been estimated as 67.377, 25.902, 31.306, 8.210, 13.880, 14.660, 13.885 and 14.404 MCM, respectively. It can thus be inferred that the lining can be an effective solution for water saving and diverting to the water-scarce area. The lining of distributaries with selected minors only or selected minors only or a combination of all distributaries with a part of FSBC only or FSBC till 14.400 km only can yield sufficient savings, i.e. more than 13.69 MCM. The study finds that the lining of FSBC up to 14.400 km is the most viable and pragmatic solution to address the water scarcity problem in the water-deficit area. The other canals can be left as they are, for uniform groundwater recharge in the area.