A crisis is developing beneath China

An institution of shared well irrigation has existed for long in Punjab since the days of the Persian wheel about which there is little information available. This institution which is based on the intertwined relations of social structure and physical aspects of irrigation continues to be a significant part of social, economic and cultural life of the cultivators of Punjab.

Climate change will affect water supplies in south Asia, where high-intensity floods and droughts are expected in the future. Increasing water storage is a key adaptation strategy, and the experience of irrigation tanks illustrates both the potential and challenges of this adaptation response.

Conjunctive use of water is always preferred from water quality, soil quality and water resources management points of view. However, it is observed that in real practice, it is extremely difficult to plan for the conjunctive use of water for different purposes and is more difficult to keep it in implementation for long.