The demand for water in the country for various purposes, including irrigation, drinking and energy, will increase to over a thousand billion cubic meters in 2025 from the present 81,30,000 crore litres, a Planning Commission report has said.

The demand for irrigation in the country will increase by several billion cubic meters in the next 15 years. While it is estimated that farmers will require 688 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water for irrigation in 2010, the demand will increase to 910 BCM in 2025.