| Water : Key concerns
1. Water Security : For drinking, agriculture and industy
(business process)
2 Quality of drinking Water : Potability of water, flouride and
arsenic content, contamination, pollutants such as pesticides
& insecticides
3. Unequitable distribution of water - specially drinking water
in urban areas and agricultural water in rural areas
4. Excessive withdrawals, specially by industries and for metros
will cause moer unrest.
5. Absence of system for collecting and treating waste water :
Drainage from mines, industrial waste, residue of agricultural
fertilizers and pesticides ..
6. Inadequate sanitation facilities : Biological pollution due
to open defecation
7. Illegal water connections (Drinking : Urban slums), Agriculture
(unequitable distri.)
8. Health effects due of exposure to various chemicals in drinking
water
9. Lack of seriousness
10. Potential disasters : Floods, Droughts and old dams
11. Interstate and intercountry disputes
12. Vulnerability to monsoon (Specially agriculture)
13. Effects of Climate Change
14. Womens's time and energy : Women in villages still have to
invest 1 to 3 hours per day in fetching water.
Water Availability in India
Annual Precipitation (including snowfall) : 4000 Cubic Km
Average Annual Availability : 1869 Cubic Km
Per CapitaWater Availability (2001) in cubic metres : 1820
Estimated Utilizable Water Resources : 1122 Cubic Km
(i) Surface Water Resources : 690 Cubic Km
(ii) Ground Water Resources : 431 Cubic Km
Source : Ministry of water, Government of India
The per capita water availability in India, which is currently
at 1,544 cubic meters in 2011 vis-à-vis the international benchmark
1,700 cubic meters, is projected to further shrink to 1,140 cubic
meters by 2050
Source : CRISIL : Report dated December 1, 2011
National Water Policy
A comprehensive policy on water is necessary on the face of a
growing number of social, economic and environmental issues surrounding
water resources in India. In 1987, the National Water Resources
Council adopted the National Water Policy (NWP) and submitted
the document to Parliament for implementation. The NWP is the
primary document stating the position of the Government of India
(GOI) on water resource issues, ranging from drought and flood
management to drinking water provisions.
In essence, the policy serves as a guideline to help planners
and managers develop the country's water resources to its maximum
potential. But the adoption of the policy is also a step-forward
for the government in terms of promoting the sustainable management
of the country's water resources. The policy addresses many issues
regarding planning,
development and allocation of water, including groundwater and
surface water sources. Among the points addressed in the policy
are:
Development of standardized national information system containing
data on water availability and use is essential for appropriate
planning;
Resource planning should be conducted using a catchment or a watershed
as the basic unit;
Water development projects should be multi-purpose and should
address various priorities such as drinking water provision and
flood-mitigation;
Environmental impact of new projects should be assessed and minimized
wherever possible;
Socially disadvantaged groups such as Scheduled Castes and Tribes
and other minority groups are to be included in the planning process
as much as possible, and farmers must become increasingly involved
in the irrigation management
policies;
Groundwater development should be based on the basis of the potential
and recharge capabilities of the aquifer;
Water allocation should be based on the following priorities:
drinking water, irrigation, hydro-power, navigation, industrial
and other uses;
Irrigation planning should attempt to maximize benefits to farmers
and integrate soil and water conservation practices;
Water rates should reflect the true cost of water use and encourage
economic use of the resource;
Promotion of conservation through education, regulation and incentives
be encouraged;
Development of a master plan for flood control and management
should be undertaken and include soil conservation, forestry management,
zoning and forecasting considerations;
Drought-prone areas should be given priority in water development
projects and programmes such as soil moisture conservation and
water harvesting practices should be encouraged;
Additional research in a number of areas such as hydrometeorology,
groundwater hydrology and recharge, water harvesting, crops and
cropping systems, sedimentation and reservoirs, river morphology
and hydraulics, recycling and re-use, and sea water resources
should be pursued.
The National Water Resources Council is the body responsible for
reviewing the progress made by the government in implementing
the policy. The Council is composed of Secretaries from various
Ministries associated with water resources and the Chief Secretaries
of States/Union Territories. Through the National Water Board,
the Council is able to make recommendations regarding the financing
and development of new projects and provide suggestions on further
action to be taken.
Acts And Regulations
Water in India is governed under three different Acts: the Environmental
Protection Act (1986), the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State
Water Disputes Act (1956). Other Acts and Regulations affect water
resources in different ways by addressing its importance for agriculture,
biodiversity and conservation and drinking water. These three
Acts, however, have the broadest scope in terms of how they affect
all aspects of water management.
River Boards Act
The regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river
valleys was to be entrusted to various River Boards when this
Act was adopted in 1956. The River Boards were designed to advise
the central government on development opportunities, coordinate
activities and resolve disputes. Under their mandate, the Boards
were required to provide advice to the government on the following
topics:
Conservation with a view to control and optimise use of water
resources;
Promotion and operation of schemes related to irrigation, water
supply and drainage;
Promotion and operation of schemes related to hydro-power and
flood control;
Promotion and control of navigation;
Promotion of aforestation and control of soil erosion;
Prevention of pollution; and
Other duties as deemed necessary.
The Indian government has been unable to constitute a River Board
since the Act was enacted, almost fifty years ago.
However, there is a realisation of the fact that the Act should
be revised and amendments are currently under way to strengthen
its powers.
Inter-State Water Disputes (ISWD) Act, 1956
Since the majority of the rivers in India are shared
between neighbouring States, the ISWD Act was enacted in 1956
to adjudicate any dispute regarding the distribution or control
of rivers or river valleys. The Act gives the Government the power
to constitute Tribunals to serve as intermediaries in the disputes.
Till date, five Inter-State Water Tribunals have been established:
Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (April 1969)
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (April 1969)
Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (October 1969)
Ravi and Beas Water Disputes Tribunal (April 1986)
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (June 1990)
The first three Tribunals have been concluded, but a final decision
is still pending on the last two matters.
International Treaties
A number of international disputes regarding the allocation
and management of water of several large transboundary rivers
have arisen between India and its neighbours. Fortunately, these
differences have been settled through diplomatic channels with
the signing of treaties and agreements. The three principal treaties
are:
The Indus Water Treaty - India and Pakistan (1960)
The Indo Nepal Treaty on the Integrated Development of Mahakali
River (1996)
The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty with Bangladesh: Sharing of Lean
Season Flow of Ganga at Farakka Barrage in India
(1996)
All three disputes arose from disagreements on the allocation
of water resources between India and the other countries. In case
of both Indus and Mahakali Rivers, the equitable distribution
of irrigation water was under contention. The Farakka Barrage
dispute originated when the water level entering Bangladesh from
India was reduced to almost nothing during the lean season (January
to May) due to the construction of the Farakka Barrage on the
Indian side of the border. In 1996, an agreement was reached between
the governments of India and Bangladesh to
share the flow during the lean season in the ratio of 60 per cent
(Bangladesh) and 40 per cent (India). Although the treaties have
been signed, there are still a number of issues which remain unresolved.
However, in general, the
treaties have generated a sense of goodwill between India and
its neighbours, which bodes well for future collaborations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ministry of Water Resources is responsible for laying down
policy guidelines and programmes for the development and regulation
of country's water resources. The Ministry has been allocated
the following functions:-
Overall planning, policy formulation, coordination and guidance
in the water resources sector.
Technical guidance, scrutiny, clearance and monitoring of the
irrigation, flood control and multi-purpose projects (major/medium).
General infrastructural, technical and research support for sect
oral development.
Providing special Central financial assistance for specific projects
and assistance in obtaining external finance from World Bank and
other agencies.
Overall policy formulation, planning and guidance in respect
of minor irrigation and command area development, administration
and monitoring of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and promotion
of participatory irrigation management.
Overall planning for the development of ground water resources,
establishment of utilizable resources and formulation of policies
of exploitation, overseeing of and support to State level activities
in ground water development.
Formulation of national water development perspective and the
determination of the water balance of different basins/sub-basins
for consideration of possibilities of inter-basin transfers.
Coordination, mediation and facilitation in regard to the resolution
of differences or disputes relating to inter-state rivers and
in some instances, the overseeing of the implementation of inter-state
projects.
Operation of the central network for flood forecasting and warning
on inter-state rivers, the provision of central assistance for
some State Schemes in special cases and preparation of flood control
master plans for the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
Talks and negotiations with neighbouring countries, in regard
to river waters, water resources development projects and the
operation of the Indus Water Treaty.
http://wrmin.nic.in/index2.asp?slid=284&sublinkid=531&langid=1
| Water Uses |
Year |
Year 2010 |
Year 2025 |
Year 2050 |
| |
1997-98 |
Low |
High |
% |
Low |
High |
% |
Low |
High |
% |
| Surface Water |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Irrigation |
318 |
330 |
339 |
48 |
325 |
366 |
43 |
375 |
463 |
39 |
| Domestic |
17 |
23 |
24 |
3 |
30 |
36 |
5 |
48 |
65 |
6 |
| Industries |
21 |
26 |
26 |
4 |
47 |
47 |
6 |
57 |
57 |
5 |
| Power |
7 |
14 |
15 |
2 |
25 |
26 |
3 |
50 |
56 |
5 |
| Inland Navigation |
|
7 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
15 |
15 |
1 |
| Flood Control |
|
- |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
0 |
| Environment (1) Afforestation |
|
- |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
0 |
| Environment (2) Ecology |
|
5 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
20 |
20 |
2 |
| Evaporation Losses |
36 |
42 |
42 |
6 |
50 |
50 |
6 |
76 |
76 |
6 |
| Total |
399 |
447 |
458 |
65 |
497 |
545 |
65 |
641 |
752 |
64 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ground Water |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Irrigation |
206 |
213 |
218 |
31 |
236 |
245 |
29 |
253 |
344 |
29 |
| Domestic & Municipal |
13 |
19 |
19 |
2 |
25 |
26 |
3 |
42 |
46 |
4 |
| Industries |
9 |
11 |
11 |
1 |
20 |
20 |
2 |
24 |
24 |
2 |
| Power |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
13 |
14 |
1 |
| Total |
230 |
247 |
252 |
35 |
287 |
298 |
35 |
332 |
428 |
36 |
| Grand Total |
629 |
694 |
710 |
100 |
784 |
843 |
100 |
973 |
1180 |
100 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Water Use |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Irrigation |
524 |
543 |
557 |
78 |
561 |
611 |
72 |
628 |
817 |
68 |
| Domestic |
30 |
42 |
43 |
6 |
55 |
62 |
7 |
90 |
111 |
9 |
| Industries |
30 |
37 |
37 |
5 |
67 |
67 |
8 |
81 |
81 |
7 |
| Power |
9 |
18 |
19 |
3 |
31 |
33 |
4 |
63 |
70 |
6 |
| Inland Navigation |
0 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
15 |
15 |
1 |
| Flood Control |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Environment (1) Afforestation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Environment (2) Ecology |
0 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
20 |
20 |
2 |
| Evaporation Losses |
36 |
42 |
42 |
6 |
50 |
50 |
6 |
76 |
76 |
7 |
| Total |
629 |
694 |
710 |
100 |
784 |
843 |
100 |
973 |
1180 |
100 |
|
