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Draft of the National Water Policy 2012 released by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) on 31st January 2012 invites comments from the general public till 29th Feb 2012
ShareA section of the water sector practitioners and experts, have been engaged in the process, and a summary of the discussions so far, is available here.
Work on the National Water Policy has been in progress for nearly two years, starting in 2010 when the announcement was first made. Consultative meetings with academia, water professionals and the corporate sector were organised in 2010 and early 2011. Meetings with representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and non-governmental organisations were organised in 2011 at Shillong, Hyderabad, Jaipur, New Delhi, and Pune. Minutes of these discussions are available on the MoWR website here. This PIB press release from the Ministry, summarizes the salient points of the policy document.
The draft is divided into the following sections:
1. Preamble
This sets the framework for the policy, including the present scenario, concerns, and basic principles of water resource management. This mentions the interdependence of all elements of the hydrological cycle, and of the need for equity.
2. Water law
The need for an 'overarching water framework law' is mentioned. It mentions the need for 'development of inter-state rivers and river valleys' as also the need to consider groundwater as a public trust and not a private good.
3. Uses of water
Here, it is determined to prioritise a minimum amount of potable water as a basic human right and ecological flows.
4. Adaptation to climate change
This section mentions variability in water resources, the need to experiment with cropping patterns, and describes dams and flood embankments as coping strategies.
5. Enhancing water available for use
This section lays heavy stress on large centralized engineering both while estimating water availability and while determining a strategy for future use. Inter-basin transfers are considered necessary.
6. Demand management and water use efficiency
Water audit, institutional arrangements for demand management, reuse and recycle are considered.
7. Water pricing
Beyond basic needs, water is to be treated an an economic good and priced accordingly. The same is said of electricity, as otherwise wastage of water is encouraged.
8. Preservation of river corridors, water bodies and infrastructure
'River corridors' and other water bodies are threatened by over-exploitation, pollution, and infrastructure development. This section talks of the need for their conservation.
9. Project planning and implementation
This concerns itself with the speedy execution of projects through concurrent monitoring by the State and the Centre.
10. Resettlement and rehabilitation
Displaced people are to be made partners in development by due attention to compensation.
11. Preparedness for flood and drought
The focus is on developing structural controls for floods and on developing disaster management plans.
12. Water supply and sanitation
Reducing the disparity between urban and rural water supply, encouraging water metering and water audits are mentioned.
13. Institutional arrangements
A state-level water authority, a central water disputes tribunal, and a national forum for water are all recommended. It is also recommended that the State confine itself to regulation of services, while provision is to be done by the community or private sector.
14. Database and information system
A separate authority is recommended to manage data related to water, other than data that has to be kept secret due to national security reasons.
15. Research and training needs
This too recommends the establishment of a separate national-level training centre.
16. International rivers
The importance of developing bilateral agreements is stressed upon.
Here is a snapshot of the most frequently used words in the Draft National Water Policy 2012
Comments to the Ministry on the draft National Water Policy 2012, have to be emailed to: nwp2012-mowr@nic.in. Last date for sending comments is 29th Feb 2012.
You can also add your as a comment to this page below or by email to contact@indiawaterportal.org and we will compile and send your feedback to the Ministry.
Summary list of important references:
Draft National Water Policy 2012 (English)
Draft National Water Policy 2012 (Hindi)
PIB press release on the National Water Policy 2012
Summary of consultative meetings organised by the MoWR over 2010-11 for developing the National Water Policy 2012
Responsible, harmonious, just and wise: Will this be true of India's new National Water Policy?
Alternative National Water Policy by Ramaswamy R Iyer - A critique by Chetan Pandit in EPW
Alternative National Water Policy by Ramaswamy R Iyer – Comments by Rahul Banerjee
National Water Policy - An alternative draft for consideration by Ramaswamy R Iyer in EPW
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The present scenario, concerns, and basic principles of water resource management. This mentions the interdependence of all elements of the hydrological cycle, and of the need for equity.
genericviagratab.com
First of all - this should be published in local languages. I would like to have this policy in Kannada as I am not able to express my feelings as I would be able to in my mother tongue.
This policy should be discussed by people at large - at-least district level. The District Collector should organize public meetings with all the NGOs in their respective districts.
Water is a common resource. No one has the right to charge for water .
It is a 'natural resource' as said by government in their draft. So natural resources are for free use and all have equal authority over it. So how can the government make water an economic good?
Excess use of water is not the real reason for charging price. The actual reason is that, this is the only sector where corruption levels are minimal.
Two important, central points that need to be noted are:
Dynamic & open policy structure:
The accelerated importance gained by the commodity i.e. water, the master policy needs be live, not just active but also to be proactive; open to any dynamics of change/s those be happening/observed till it crystallizes or matures to the final saturation operation stage (say 3 to 5 or to a 10 years period).
Till such time the reviews and periodic renewals should be adopted as deemed fit consistently on suitable time intervals. It could be reviewed on a semi-annual or annual basis to begin with.
Administrative setup to base upon geographical, regions & co-operative principles:
Water is a commodity and major factor for life and prosperity for the community should be regarded much important and serious than a fiscal policy that is being followed. This is blue gold for short as well as long term. If any wrong happens due to wrong policy it will attract dangerous consequences since it directly affects people.
Special distribution of administrative circles on watershed wise sub-groups and working on cooperative principles would prove far better for obtaining better end results to provide control & administrative systems rather than state wise sub-policy formulations.
Like we have RBI for fiscal control, we need an exactly similar central institution with independent powers and autonomy for coordination, operation and control.
Would be pleased to participate if, as and when needed.
Mahendra Barde
Email : mbarde@gmail.com,
anitech@rediffmail.com
Cell : 91 98205 05145 or
91 93235 93520
Skype: anitech9
Other than dams & rivers, (surface water bodies) wells & borewells are the below surface source of water. But for having water in the well we need ample water underground for our survival. Groundwater can be increased only by rainwater harvesting (RWH). Proper place of harvesting rainwater is the belly of Mother Earth & not its lap.
Present existing methods of RWH like well recharging, borewell recharging cannot recharge more than 10% rainwater underground in heavy intensity rains. Investment for recharging rainwater is Rs 150-3000 per cu m of rainwater, & that too for a lifespan of 10-20 years only. We need a path to recharge rainwater underground.
KFP(Patented) RWH can harvest upto 80% rainwater under ground (instead of 10%) at a onetime investment of Rs 10-15 cu m only (compared to Rs 150-3000 per cu mtr) for a lifespan of more than 200 years (as against 10-20 years life for other methods).
www.varshajal.com
Water is a natural resource, fundamental to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development. It is also a scarce resource. In India, water problems are man made and has become very complex. I hope with this national water policy, such problems will come to rest.
People's health condition in any region, can be directly related to the quality of water. Hence it is very important to state the availability of “safe drinking water to all”. This must be included in the national water policy.
1. Current scenario
Current scenario, a few paragraph on the current status of drinking water quality in Indian should be provided. The gap analysis of Indian drinking water quality vis-a-viz the international water quality to be brought in. At present there is big gap in Indian standards for drinking water and international standards.
2. Public policies on water resources and its management
Policies on water resources and its management, should be self driven with clear objectives and targets that are achievable. Also this must bridge the gap in public awareness and the current status. Draft policy, by and large covers all these except for the safe drinking water.
3. Water frame work law
There must be a definite goal for reducing the withdrawal of fresh water from water sources, by means of water recycling and re-use. Though the government is encouraging water recycling and re-use, it is not implemented effectively. At present, even for gardening, vehicle washing, fire protection etc, fresh/potable water is used.
70% of the water drawn from the source is used and let into sewer lines as waste water. If the same is properly treated and recycled then there will be little reduction in drawing the fresh water. This can be implemented as micro - program, targeting communities, apartments, and commercial establishments, which will definitely give the great results.
4. Uses of water
Minimum quantity of water for every one is a must along with that, safe drinking water availability is much more important.
5. Enhancing the water available for use
The available land and water bodies are limited. Policy should focus on how to maximize the usage of water by recycling. In the countries in the middle east, available fresh water per capita was 170lpd. By adopting water recycling and re-use, there was reduction is tapping the fresh water from the natural sources from 170lpd to 110lpd.
The target of Abu Dhabi was to bring it down to 75lpd per person by end of 2020. The total requirement of water per person still remains the same as 170lpd. Our policy should emphasis such requirement.
6. Demand management and water use efficiency
India is one among those countries who have very poorly managed the water. In India, most of the water problems are man made. In developed countries, water leakage (which is not available for billing) is <3%. However in India, water leakage/ pilferage is as high as 45%. This is huge loss to the government and a huge threat for the sustainable development of the country.
Policy must emphasis the need for the efficient water transport and usage. Secondly, incentive scheme shall be provided for improving the water transport system.
Also, a separate body shall be established to forecast the water demand by different users and lay the program for providing the required type of water for the different users, there by increase the efficiency of water usage.
Special incentives for recycle and re-use of waste water must be provided.
7. Project planning and implementation
Water crisis is constantly increasing in India. Time is of the essence. Correct identification of the project and planning of the implementation is essential. There must be clear identification of micro projects, macro projects and mega projects. Since the mega projects gestation period is too long, it is the need of the time is to put more thrust on micro and medium scale projects. Hand book for planning, implementation and monitoring procedures must be put in place for reducing the over run of cost and time.
8. Preparedness for flood and drought
Encouragement of the alternative technologies should be provided. Government should make an outline (for the fixed budget) for such technical development to tackle floods & drought. Small players should be encouraged by providing soft loans or help in 'kind' for development of such plants/equipment.
This is an important issue.
It is very simple, sufficient notice should be given in first place. It should be at least 90 days.
Government, as seen often, offers full page advertisements for its various schemes and programmes (informative press publicity). I hope such matters are elaborated and placed before the common public in all languages and regions through local publications.
I do endorse this view very strongly.
The people of the country have the right to know who are all the authors/experts involved in compilation of this draft national water policy.
Some of the details that MoWR/GoI owe ordinary citizens of this country are:
1. Names of experts/authors involved in compilation of this draft national water policy-2012?
2. Qualifications of experts/authors involved in compilation of this draft national water policy - 2012?
3. Experience of experts/authors in the field of water sector as on year 2012?
4. How many scheduled caste/scheduled tribe experts/authors are involved in compilation of this draft national water policy
5. How many workshops/seminars/public consultations have been held till the finalization of draft national water policy
If Ministry of water resources and central water commission officials are confident of their expertise in water sector, then, why ministry of water resources and central water commission is afraid to disclose the names of experts involved in draft national water policy - 2012?
Why officials/experts of ministry of water resources/central water commission are hiding behind draft national water policy - 2012?
K.K.Bajaj
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