Experts advocate much higher water storage capacity and inter-regional transfers of water in order to capture surplus water and transfer it to deficit areas (see link 1). Since 80% of the monsoon rain falls in a span of 40-50 days, much of India suffers from considerable surface run-off and inadequate groundwater recharge. Uplands are prone to soil degradation, little groundwater recharge, and poor water availability, eg. Jharkhand which has vast undulating areas also has low crop intensity. Pump irrigation makes heavy use of groundwater and electricity, which leads to shortages and drives up costs.

Irrigation projects though useful also have limitations. Dam projects don't stop huge run-offs to sea and are a source of conflict and inequitable distribution. Eg. Kerala has steep west-facing slopes (ie. Malabar coast) and despite abundant rains and many large dams, most of its water runs off into the sea. Uplands areas are water-starved and Kerala irrigates only 17.5% of the cropped area. Maharashtra has similar topography (ie Konkan coast). Though it has India's largest dam/ reservoir system, Maha has the second lowest irrigation coverage (at 18%). Eastern and Central Maharashtra are uplands, receive poor rainfall and suffer very severe droughts (see link 2).

Water conservation is not widely practised because those with ample water don't see the necessity and those with little water can't afford them. Water conservation can be done by a variety of means. Surface run-off can be slowed by check dams, ponds, landscaping (ie forestation), etc. Water can be used more efficiently with micro-irrigation and well-developed irrigation canal system (ie. command area development). States and Centre are taking stronger action on water conservation:
1. Building ponds. Central govt plans to increase ponds from 0.5m to 1.2m. This would be enough to irrigate 6.3mha. States govts have even bigger plans. AP wants 600k ponds, JH 150k, etc.
2. Refurbishment of ponds, dams and canals, by lining the surfaces and removing the sedimentation
3. Use of pipes instead of canals to reduce water loss
4, Promotion of micro-irrigation on a large scale. Some states have prioritising electricity to micro-irrigation farms. Others have made it compulsory to use micro-irrigation with canal irrigation and water guzzler crops.

Example: Dewas district in MP, though a parched land, can support 2 to 3 crops a year. Many farmers grow water-intensive crops like watermelons all due to the water from a local pond. 1 ha of pond (2.75 m deep) can intensively irrigate 8-10 ha. Small water bodies give assured water to nearby fields, recharge groundwater and reduce soil erosion. Water can be used for livestock and aquaculture. There is a tangible incentive for water conservation.
A simple way to trap India’s monsoon rain can boost output by 300%