PWD project to develop decision support systems

Virudhunagar: The Public Works Department (PWD) has embarked on an ambitious project of formulating a “Decision support systems” (DSS) for optimum use of available water resources by all users.

The DSS is an integrated system comprising meteorological data, hydrological data, along with information on land use pattern, population, livestock population, industries, pollution and water quality. This work has been taken up under the Hydrology Project phase II at a cost of Rs.25.27 crore.

Addressing a workshop on hydrologic data user group and DSS planning expert group meet, Superintending Engineer (Hydrology), P.S. Yogamoorthy, said that DSS would be developed for drought management in Vaippar Basin, flood management in Tamirabarani basin and conjunctive use of surface and ground water in Agniar basin.

He said that the DSS would help the officials to arrive on distress sharing of water. “We will create awareness among the farmers on even restricting the area of irrigation coverage if there is a shortfall of storage in dams and tanks. The farmers would be encouraged to take up crops that are less water consuming,” he said.

The DSS would be uploaded in the web site to give free access to any person in the State from their houses.

K.T. Balan, Superintending Engineer, Ground Water Circle, urged the officials from various departments to cooperate and provide quality data to develop the DSS.

The Executive Engineer, Hydrology Division, P. Balasubramanian, Assistant Executive Engineer, Hydrology Sub Division, S. Raja, were among those who addressed the workshop.

Representatives from the Revenue Department, PWD, Department of Statistics, universities and voluntary organisations took part in the workshop.