NATIONAL WATER POLICY

Need for a National Water Policy

1.1 Water is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national asset. Planning,  development and management of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives.

1.2 As per the latest assessment (1993), out of the total precipitation, including snowfall, of around  4000 billion cubic metre in the country, the availability from surface water and replenishable ground water  is put at 1869 billion cubic metre. Because of topographical and other constraints, about 60% of this i.e. 690  billion cubic metre from surface water and 432 billion cubic metre from ground water, can be put to beneficial use. Availability of water is highly uneven in both space and time. Precipitation is confined to  only about three or four months in a year and varies from 100 mm in the western parts of Rajasthan to over  10000 mm at Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. Rivers and under ground aquifers often cut across state boundaries.  Water, as a resource is one and indivisible: rainfall, river waters, surface ponds and lakes and ground water  are all part of one system.

1.3 Water is part of a larger ecological system. Realising the importance and scarcity attached to the  fresh water, it has to be treated as an essential environment for sustaining all life forms.

1.4 Water is a scarce and precious national resource to be planned, developed, conserved and managed  as such, and on an integrated and environmentally sound basis, keeping in view the socio-economic aspects  and needs of the States. It is one of the most crucial elements in developmental planning. As the country has  entered the 21st century, efforts to develop, conserve, utilise and manage this important resource in a  sustainable manner, have to be guided by the national perspective.

1.5 Floods and droughts affect vast areas of the country, transcending state boundaries. One-sixth area  of the country is drought-prone. Out of 40 million hectare of the flood prone area in the country, on an  average, floods affect an area of around 7.5 million hectare per year. Approach to management of droughts  and floods has to be co-ordinated and guided at the national level.

1.6 Planning and implementation of water resources projects involve a number of socio-economic  aspects and issues such as environmental sustainability, appropriate resettlement and rehabilitation of  project-affected people and livestock, public health concerns of water impoundment, dam safety etc. Common approaches and guidelines are necessary on these matters. Moreover, certain problems and weaknesses have affected a large number of water resources projects all over the country. There have been  substantial time and cost overruns on projects. Problems of water logging and soil salinity have emerged in  some irrigation commands, leading to the degradation of agricultural land. Complex issues of equity and social justice in regard to water distribution are required to be addressed. The development, and overexploitation of groundwater resources in certain parts of the country have raised the concern and need for  judicious and scientific resource management and conservation. All these concerns need to be addressed on  the basis of common policies and strategies.

1.7 Growth process and the expansion of economic activities inevitably lead to increasing demands for  water for diverse purposes: domestic, industrial, agricultural, hydro-power, thermal-power, navigation,  recreation, etc. So far, the major consumptive use of water has been for irrigation. While the gross  irrigation potential is estimated to have increased from 19.5 million hectare at the time of independence to  about 95 million hectare by the end of the Year 1999-2000, further development of a substantial order is  necessary if the food and fiber needs of our growing population are to be met with. The country’s  population which is over 1027 million (2001 AD) at present is expected to reach a level of around 1390  million by 2025 AD

1.8 Production of food grains has increased from around 50 million tonnes in the fifties to about 208 million tonnes in the Year 1999-2000. This will have to be raised to around 350 million tonnes by the year 2025 AD. The drinking water needs of people and livestock have also to be met. Domestic and industrial water needs have largely been concentrated in or near major cities. However, the demand in rural areas is expected to increase sharply as the development programmes improve economic conditions of the rural masses. Demand for water for hydro and thermal power generation and for other industrial uses is also increasing substantially. As a result, water, which is already a scarce resource, will become even scarcer in future. This underscores the need for the utmost efficiency in water utilisation and a public awareness of the importance of its conservation.

1.9 Another important aspect is water quality. Improvements in existing strategies, innovation of new techniques resting on a strong science and technology base are needed to eliminate the pollution of surface and ground water resources, to improve water quality. Science and technology and training have to play important roles in water resources development and management in general.

1.10 National Water Policy was adopted in September, 1987. Since then, a number of issues andchallenges have emerged in the development and management of the water resources. Therefore, the National Water Policy (1987) has been reviewed and updated.

Information System

2.1 A well developed information system, for water related data in its entirety, at the national / state level, is a prime requisite for resource planning. A standardised national information system should be  established with a network of data banks and data bases, integrating and strengthening the existing Central  and State level agencies and improving the quality of data and the processing capabilities.

2.2 Standards for coding, classification, processing of data and methods / procedures for its collection  should be adopted. Advances in information technology must be introduced to create a modern information  system promoting free exchange of data among various agencies. Special efforts should be made to develop

and continuously upgrade technological capability to collect, process and disseminate reliable data in the  desired time frame.

2.3 Apart from the data regarding water availability and actual water use, the system should also include  comprehensive and reliable projections of future demands of water for diverse purposes.

Water Resources Planning

3.1 Water resources available to the country should be brought within the category of utilizable resources to the maximum possible extent.

3.2 Non-conventional methods for utilisation of water such as through inter-basin transfers, artificial  recharge of ground water and desalination of brackish or sea water as well as traditional water conservation  practices like rainwater harvesting, including roof-top rainwater harvesting, need to be practiced to further  increase the utilisable water resources. Promotion of frontier research and development, in a focused manner, for these techniques is necessary.

3.3 Water resources development and management will have to be planned for a hydrological unit such  as drainage basin as a whole or for a sub-basin, multi-sectorally, taking into account surface and ground  water for sustainable use incorporating quantity and quality aspects as well as environmental considerations.  All individual developmental projects and proposals should be formulated and considered within the framework of such an overall plan keeping in view the existing agreements / awards for a basin or a subbasin so that the best possible combination of options can be selected and sustained.

3.4 Watershed management through extensive soil conservation, catchment-area treatment, preservation of forests and increasing the forest cover and the construction of check-dams should be promoted. Efforts shall be to conserve the water in the catchment.

3.5 Water should be made available to water short areas by transfer from other areas including transfers  from one river basin to another, based on a national perspective, after taking into account the requirements  of the areas / basins.

Institutional Mechanism

4.1 With a view to give effect to the planning, development and management of the water resources on a  hydrological unit basis, along with a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary and participatory approach as well as  integrating quality, quantity and the environmental aspects, the existing institutions at various levels under  the water resources sector will have to be appropriately reoriented / reorganised and even created, wherever necessary. As maintenance of water resource schemes is under non-plan budget, it is generally being neglected. The institutional arrangements should be such that this vital aspect is given importance equal or even more than that of new constructions.

4.2 Appropriate river basin organisations should be established for the planned development andmanagement of a river basin as a whole or sub-basins, wherever necessary. Special multi-disciplinary units should be set up to prepare comprehensive plans taking into account not only the needs of irrigation but also harmonising various other water uses, so that the available water resources are determined and put to optimum use having regard to existing agreements or awards of Tribunals under the relevant laws. The scope and powers of the river basin organisations shall be decided by the basin states themselves.

Water Allocation Priorities

5. In the planning and operation of systems, water allocation priorities should be broadly as follows:

· Drinking water

· Irrigation

· Hydro-power

· Ecology

· Agro-industries and non-agricultural industries

· Navigation and other uses.

However, the priorities could be modified or added if warranted by the area / region specific considerations.

Project Planning

6.1 Water resource development projects should as far as possible be planned and developed asmultipurpose projects. Provision for drinking water should be a primary consideration.

6.2 The study of the likely impact of a project during construction and later on human lives, settlements, occupations, socio-economic, environment and other aspects shall form an essential component of project planning.

6.3 In the planning, implementation and operation of a project, the preservation of the quality of environment and the ecological balance should be a primary consideration. The adverse impact on the environment, if any, should be minimised and should be offset by adequate compensatory measures. The project should, nevertheless, be sustainable.

Source: Ministry of water resources