Water Management in India
The following modes of Irrigation Water are available in India.

• Rain - South West Monsoon rain is responsible for almost 100% cultivation during summer, North East Monsoon helps winter cultivation in same places.
• Subsidiary irrigation with stored water in Dams through Irrigation Canals - There is a vast network of such irrigational canals from Dams on various rivers. It has helped in increasing cultivable land, boostering water supply during vagaries of the monsoon and helping cultivation during dry months. Unfortunately the concept of River Dams is not free from controversy. Also water, released through irrigation canals, is wasted to a great deal because of improper water management.
• Small Scale Irrigation - These consist of river lift irrigation, stored water in surface tanks and tapping of underground water. The first two have no bad effects on the ecology, but the third is a major ecological problem.

Methods of use of Irrigation Water

• Flooding - India's main crop paddy is cultivated by this system. Other major crops like wheat, maize, pulses and cash crops also employ this system but water requirement is much less.
• Lift Irrigation Channels - Most vegetable are cultivated in this system. Essentially two rows of vegetable plants are separated by a channel. Water is pumped along these channels intermittently.
• Drip Irrigation - This is still a very low key method and used very selectively.

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