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A Bilevel Multiobjective Model for Optimal Allocation of Water Resources in the Punjab Province of Pakistan

  • Research Article-Civil Engineering
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Abstract

In this study, a simple but efficient bilevel multiobjective model (BLMOM) has been formulated for the optimal allocation of available water (AW) among competing water users. Upper-level decision makers (DMs), being the leader in the hierarchy (i.e., river authorities), allocate AW to lower-level DMs (i.e., canal authorities) based on equity and stability, whereas lower-level DMs allocate AW among competing users based on two single- and one multiobjective functions. The first objective function (OF1) maximizes the satisfaction rate (SR) of various water users, whereas the second objective function (OF2) maximizes the net economic benefits (NEB). The multiobjective function (OF12) maximizes the combined effect of the first two single objectives. The multiobjective function has been solved by using the simultaneous compromise constraint (SICCON) technique which creates a compromise between single-objective functions. The model was applied at Taunsa Barrage, Pakistan, for the optimal allocation of AW. Various scenarios were analyzed by varying priorities assigned to different objective functions and water users to evaluate the model applicability under various conditions. When OF1 was considered, maximum SR of 61% was achieved. In case of priority given to OF2, maximum NEB of 77 million USD was attained. However, in the case of OF12, both SR and NEB were maximized, whereas wheat, cotton, sugarcane, rice, onion and sunflower water users attained NEB of 14.36, 5.03, 22.96, 27.85, 1.34 and 0.13 million USD, respectively, with overall NEB of 72 million USD against satisfaction rate of 52%.

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Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

AW:

Available water

BLMOM:

Bilevel multiobjective model

COV:

Coefficient of variation

CROPWAT:

Crop Water and Irrigation Requirements Program of FAO

D.G.:

Dera Ghazi Khan canal

DMs:

Decision makers

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization

IRSA:

Indus river system authority

NEB:

Net economic benefits

OF1 :

Maximization of satisfaction rate

OF12 :

Maximization of satisfaction rate and net economic benefits

OF2 :

Maximization of NEB

PMD:

Pakistan Meteorological Department

PMIU:

Programme monitoring and implementation unit

SICCON:

Simultaneous compromise constraint

SR:

Satisfaction rate

T.P.:

Taunsa Panjnad link canal

WT:

Weighting technique

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Punjab Irrigation Department for providing the data without any cost.

Funding

No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, 54890, Pakistan

    Muddasar Masood, Ijaz Ahmad, Muhammad Kaleem Sarwar, Noor Muhammad Khan, Muahmmad Waseem & Ghulam Nabi

  2. Civil Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, 54890, Pakistan

    Noor Muhammad Khan

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Jubail University College, Jubail Industrial City, 31961, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Muhammad Saleem

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  1. Muddasar Masood
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by M. Masood, I. Ahmad, M.K. Sarwar, N.M. Khan, M. Waseem, G. Nabi and M. Saleem. This revised version of the manuscript was written by M. Masood, I. Ahmad and G. Nabi and reviewed by N.M. Khan and M. Saleem. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ijaz Ahmad.

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Masood, M., Ahmad, I., Sarwar, M.K. et al. A Bilevel Multiobjective Model for Optimal Allocation of Water Resources in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Arab J Sci Eng 46, 10597–10612 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05480-3

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