Well Interference and Aftermath: An Economic Analysis of Well Irrigation in Hard Rock Areas of Karnataka

It has been brought out by many studies that well irrigation has many advantages over the canal and tank irrigation. However only a few studies have the interrelated problems of well irrigalion. The present paper analyses the impact of well interference in terms of economic equity and sustainability by using field level dat0a collected from well irrigated areas of Kanataka. The study conctudes that net income per well and Water use efficiency are lower in higher well interfered area compared to low interfered area. The price of water (per unit) pumped out from well is also much higher in well interfered area. Finally, the study suggests that the norms of inter-well distance in relation to groundwater availability should be increasing followed to avoid the adverse problem of well interference. For increasing the water use efficiency under the groundwater constrained situation. drip and sprinker method of irrigation should be promoted.