Theultimate challenge being faced by modern world is proper management of waterwhich is one of the scarce natural resources. Growing population, modernurbanization and meeting their demands is one of the greatest challenges forhydrologists. Developments in agricultural practices also add up to theincreasing demand of the water. With these considerations, hydrological modelsplays a vital role in assessment of water functioning at the watershed scale.In this present study, Ghataprabha basin is selected for the estimation ofsurface runoff using GIS based approach, SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool).The main objective of the study is to predict long-term simulation on theGhataprabha basin. The model was calibrated for the period 1991-1994 andvalidated for the period 1995-98.Good results were achieved both in the case ofcalibration and validation of the model.
Keywords- Hydrological model,Runoff, SWAT model, Ghataprabha sub-basin.