WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN UPCOMING SMART CITY – A CASE STUDY OF AMARAVATI

Abstract

Land use change impacts surface water-balance, water quality and water demand. On the other hand, water resources degradation also posing threat to the society due to over-utilization which results insufficient water facilities for the growing demand. The present study focuses on past land use change and also predicted future land use change. For this, the land use/land cover maps of the study year for the years 1993, 1997, 2005, 2011 and 2017 have been prepared using ArcGIS and ERDAS. The results showed urban area change from 1993-2017 is 8.09 km2, which is 3.7% for 24 years. So, urban area is growing at a rate of 0.33 km2/year. The future land use predicted using Land Use Change Modeler in TerrSet Software in which Markov Model used. The results showed urban area change from 2017 to 2050 is 58.63 km2, which is 26.95% for 33 years. So, urban area is increasing at a rate of 1.77 km2/year. Comparing capital city with other bifurcated state capitals is very useful to understand the water scarcity and management problems faced by the cities with the unexpected outgrowth of population and urbanization. An attempt made to check how population changes in bifurcated state capitals to Amaravati in which Ranchi city forecasted population matches with the estimated master plan population of Amaravati which significantly can study the changing patterns of both cities with respect of water balance and water resources management. Water scarcity, which emerges when demand exceeds supply, poses unprecedented challenges to human and ecological security. SWITCH approach helps to make the city more sustainable in future with learning alliances, theme-city level strategic planning studying theme level city water balance, water drain and water economics. The suggested urban water resources management plan could help the city for not running towards more sources and reduce the water demands by increasing water reuse efficiencies with SATs, aquifer storage & recovery, engineered buffered technologies; implementing water demand management options like installing DMAs, systemization of water supply system, water metering, water saving devices, rain water harvesting at roof tops, green and brown buildings, constructing green infrastructure, grey water reuse; water sensitive urban design through River Krishna restoration using eco-hydrology principles, etc. The results of the study will be important input for planners for an upcoming city to understand and analyze the urban water balance for future with some proper measures taken at planning stage itself.