Energy regulations as a demand management option: potentials, problems and prospects

Abstract

Irrigation is the predominant user (more than 80 %) of water resources in India. Of the total net irrigated area (NIA) of 58.54 million hectares (mha) in the country during 2004-05, almost 64 % was irrigated by groundwater. The NIA by tubewells and wells is almost double the net area irrigated by canals. During 2003-04 more than 50 % of NIA in Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya