State Water Policy of Orissa (2007)

The State Water Policy of Orissa (2007) supersedes the State Water Policy (1994) in the light of the fact that a number of developments have taken place and new information and knowledge have been generated and new issues and challenges have emerged in the field of development and management of water resources. It proclaims that water is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national asset.

The policy approved by the State Water Resources Board aims at laying down the principles of equitable and judicious use of water for survival of life, welfare of human beings and sustained as well as balanced growth of the State. It makes the following points –

• The hydrological unit should be the unit of development and management of water resources, starting from primary watersheds to sub-catchments and catchments, integrated into sub-basins and basins.
• The State of Orissa adopts the following order of priority in water allocation in tune with the National Policy: (1) Drinking water and domestic use (human and animal consumption) (2) Ecology (3) Irrigation, Agriculture and other related activities including fisheries (4) Hydro Power (5) Industries including Agro Industries and (6) Navigation and other uses such as tourism.
• The State Water Plan will not only allocate the water resource to different sectors of priority, it will also have a perspective plan for development of these resources in important areas like drinking water, irrigation, hydro-power etc. While developing these resources, people's need, preservation of the ecological balance and enrichment of the ecosystem would receive adequate attention. The plan will be holistic, participatory and environmentally sustainable.
• The preparation of the State Water Plan and development of the water resources require an appropriate institutional and legal framework to support the activities.

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