CHALLENGES OF USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS

Abstract

The total water requirement of India by the year 2050 has been estimated at 1,450 km3 /year (MOWR 1999). This is significantly more than the current estimate of utilizable water resorces potential of 1,122 km3 /year (surface water=690 km 3 /year and groundwater=432 km 3 /year) through conventional development strategies (Gupta and Deshpande 2004). India’s water problems basically stem from disparate precipitation, mismanagement, and the fact that while nearly 70% of precipitation occurs in 100 days, the water requirement is spread over 365 days. Indeed, water is the biggest crisis facing India in terms of spread and severity.