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Abstract
India is crisscrossed by 12 major river systems, Most of the ancient major cities are situated near the banks of these rivers. Water is indispensable to sustain life. Its availability, access and quality are crucial factors deciding the quality of life of not only human beings but also all other living beings. Water is also unavoidable for overall economic development of the human society. This is clear from the fact that water is a very basic necessity for food production. Water is also needed for various other industrial and commercial activities. Thus, water also plays a critical role in poverty eradication. About 85% of the available water of India is used for agricultural purposes, 8% for domestic purposes and 5% for industry (FAO Aquastats 2003).