Climate Risk Analysis for Water Resources in Dryland Area of West Bengal

Drylands are characterized by their limited water supply, low and highly variable rainfall, and recurrent drought. Almost 40% of land in the world is considered drylands, which are the most sensitive areas to climate change and human activities. Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) projections data show an increase of drylands by 50% near the end of this century. With the expansion of drylands, and the increasing population in West Bengal (85° 40'E-88° 15'E longitudes and 21° 45'N-24° 45'N latitude), this puts pressure on water managers to accurately plan, prepare, and implement new measures for increasing water sustainability and sources of water. Future climate projections will require finding alternative and reusable water sources for present and future use. The goal of this study is to design a methodology to evaluate current existing groundwater resources, and to identify future potential zone for artificial groundwater recharge activities to improve groundwater storage during rain events. We also evaluate locations for rainwater harvesting, the state-of-the science of wastewater reuse and alternative crop rotations to minimize water use while maximizing production and benefits to farmers. Our work is applicable to other dryland areas around the world experiencing accelerated warming and desertification.