Indus Basin (Case Study)

• What two NEEs is the Indus Basin a water source for?

  India and Pakistan
• Whats special about the Indus Basin?

  Largest continuous irrigation scheme in the world
• How many link canals enable flow between rivers?

  12
• How many large and small dams?

  3 large dams and 100 small
• What distance of smaller canals distribute water across the countryside?

  64,000km of smaller canals
• What distance of ditches and streams provide water for what part of Pakistan?

  1.6 million km provide irrigation for Pakistan's agricultural land
• What is Pakistan's largest reservoir and with what capacity?

  Tarbela with capacity of 11 billion meters cubed
• How many hectares of land are irrigated as a result of the scheme?

  14 million hectares
• How much more land is available for cultivation?

  40%
• How much more wheat. rice and fruit is now grown?

  36% more wheat, 39% more rice and 150% more fruit
• What is another benefit that comes with the Scheme

  Hydroelectric power is generated from the dams
• What is a disadvantage of the Scheme in the summer?

  Water loss from evaporation as a result of hot summers
• What is an issue with the volume of water now in the Indus river basin?

  High water levels have led to waterlogging
• What will increase the demand for water?

  Population Growth
• What is an economic drawback of the Scheme?

  High costs to maintain reservoir capacity
• What determines water demand in an area? (4)

  Population in an area

  Population density in an area

  Income of people in an area

  The amount of livestock and farming taking place
• What determines the amount of water available in an area?

  Amount of rainfall

  Amount of groundwater

  Other sources of water
• What are the main factors affecting water availability?

  Poverty

  Climate

  Infrastructure (Aqaducts etc.)

  Geology

  Pollution

  Over-Abstraction