New Delhi: Three special cells have been set up to conduct studies on the effect of climate change on water resources, it was announced on Wednesday.

The ministry of water resources has set up the cells at the Central Water Commission (CWC), Brahamputra Board and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee.

This follows the need for conducting further studies and for consolidating the data obtained from studies that have already been completed, an official release said on Wednesday.

For instance, CWC and NIH have prepared a preliminary consolidated report on the effect of climate change on water resources on the basis of analysis of time series of rainfall data and flow data analysis.

CWC has also carried out trend analyses, including one on the Ganga, "and has concluded that there is a need for more comprehensive study by taking into account all available data," the statement said.

"There is also need for capacity building and exposure towards the standard practices being followed internationally," the statement added.

This apart, "there is need for identifying causes of changes in flow patterns distinctively attributable to the finer demarcation of climate change and variability", the statement said.

With professorial chairs already established at the Indian Institutes of Technology at Roorkee, Khargpur and Guwahati and the National Institute of Technology at Srinagar and Patna, the CWC, NIH and Brahamputra Board are collaborating with these institutions on studies for proper assessment of the effect of climate change on water resources and flow characteristics.

"The objective of these studies is to examine the effect of climate change on water resources to assess the extent of likely change in the water availability and flow chacteristics; evaluate the effect of such changes on the performance of water resources systems; and identify appropriate measures to address the effect of climate change on water resources," the statement said. IANS