Top 25 Key-Benefits of Water Policy in India

The following points highlight the top twenty-five key benefits of water policy in India. Some of the key benefits are: 1. Need for a National Water Policy 2. Information System 3. Water Resources Planning 4. Institutional Mechanism 5. Water Allocation Priorities 6. Project Planning 7. Ground Water Development 8. Drinking Water 9. Irrigation and Others.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 1.

Information System:

(i) 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.

(ii) 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.

(iii) 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 Policy: Key Benefit # 2.

Water Resources Planning:

(i) Water resources available to the country should be brought within the category of utilisable resources to the maximum possible extent.

(ii) 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.

(iii) 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 sub basin so that the best possible combination of options can be selected and sustained.

(iv) 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.

(v) 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.’

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 3.

Institutional Mechanism:

(i) 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 in 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.

(ii) Appropriate river basin organisations should be established for the planned development and management 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 Policy: Key Benefit # 4.

Water Allocation Priorities:

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

a. Drinking water.

b. Irrigation.

c. Hydro-power.

d. Ecology.

e. Agro-industries and non-agricultural industries.

f. Navigation and other uses.

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

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 5.

Project Planning:

(i) Water resource development projects should as far as possible be planned and developed as multipurpose projects. Provision for drinking water should be a primary consideration.

(ii) 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.

(iii) 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.

(iv) There should be an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to the planning, formulation, clearance and implementation of projects, including catchment area treatment and management, environmental and ecological aspects, the rehabilitation of affected people and command area development.

The planning of projects in hilly areas should take into account the need to provide assured drinking water, possibilities of hydro-power development and the proper approach to irrigation in such areas, in the context of physical features and constraints of the basin such as steep slopes, rapid run-off and the incidence of soil erosion.

The economic evaluation of projects in such areas should also take these factors into account.

(v) Special efforts should be made to investigate and formulate projects either in, or for the benefit of, areas inhabited by tribal or other specially disadvantaged groups such as socially weak, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

In other areas also, project planning should pay special attention to the needs of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other weaker sections of the society. The economic evaluation of projects benefiting such disadvantaged sections should also take these factors into account.

(vi) The drainage system should form an integral part of any irrigation project right from the planning stage.

(vii) Time and cost overruns and deficient realisation of benefits characterising most water related projects should be overcome by upgrading the quality of project preparation and management.

Inadequate funding of projects should be obviated by an optimal allocation of resources on the basis of prioritisation, having regard to the early completion of on-going projects as well as the need to reduce regional imbalances.

(viii) The involvement and participation of beneficiaries and other stakeholders should be encouraged right from the project planning stage itself.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 6.

Ground Water Development:

(i) There should be a periodical reassessment of the ground water potential on a scientific basic, taking into consideration the quality of the water available and economic viability of its extraction

(ii) Exploitation of ground water resources should be so regulated as not to exceed the recharging possibilities, as also to ensure social equity. The detrimental environmental consequences of over-exploitation of ground water need to be effectively prevented by the Central and State Governments.

Ground water recharge projects should be developed and implemented for improving both the quality and availability of ground water resource.

(iii) Integrated and coordinated development of surface water and ground water resources and their conjunctive use should be envisaged right from the project planning stage and should form an integral part of the project implementation.

(iv) Over exploitation of ground water should be avoided especially near the coast to prevent ingress of seawater into sweet water aquifers.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 7.

Drinking Water:

Adequate safe drinking water facilities should be provided to the entire population both in urban and in rural areas. Irrigation and multipurpose projects should invariably include a drinking water component, wherever there is no alternative source of drinking water. Drinking water needs of human beings and animals should be the first charge on any available water.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 8.

Irrigation:

(i) Irrigation planning either in an individual project or in a basin as a whole should take into account the irritability of land, cost-effective irrigation options possible from all available sources of water and appropriate irrigation techniques for optimising water use efficiency.

Irrigation intensity should be such as to extend the benefits of irrigation to as large a number of farm families as possible, keeping in view the need to maximise production.

(ii) There should be a close integration of water-use and land-use policies.

(iii) Water allocation in an irrigation system should be done with due regard to equity and social justice. Disparities in the availability of water between head-reach and tail-end farms and between large and small farms should be obviated by adoption of a rotational water distribution system and supply of water on a volumetric basis subject to certain ceilings and rational pricing.

(iv) Concerted efforts should be made to ensure that the irrigation potential created is fully utilised. For this purpose, the command area development approach should be adopted in all irrigation projects.

(v) Irrigation being the largest consumer of fresh water, the aim should be to get optimal productivity per unit of water. Scientific water management, farm practices and sprinkler and drip system of irrigation should be adopted wherever feasible.

(vi) Reclamation of water logged/saline affected land by scientific and cost-effective methods should form a part of command area development programme.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 9.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation:

Optimal use of water resources necessitates construction of storages and the consequent resettlement and rehabilitation of population. A skeletal national policy in this regard needs to be formulated so that the project affected persons share the benefits through proper rehabilitation.

States should accordingly evolve their own detailed resettlement and rehabilitation policies for the sector, taking into account the local conditions. Careful planning is necessary to ensure that construction and rehabilitation activities proceed simultaneously and smoothly.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 10.

Financial and Physical Sustainability:

Besides creating additional water resources facilities for various uses, adequate emphasis needs to be given- to the physical and financial sustainability of existing facilities. There is, therefore, a need to ensure that the water charges for various uses should be fixed in such a way that they cover at least the operation and maintenance charges of providing the service initially and a part of the capital costs subsequently.

These rates should be linked directly to the quality of service provided. The subsidy on water rates to the disadvantaged and poorer sections of the society should be well targeted and transparent.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 11.

Participatory Approach to Water Resources Management:

Management of the water resources for diverse uses should incorporate a participatory approach; by involving not only the various governmental agencies but also the users and other stakeholders, in an effective and decisive manner, in various aspects of planning, design; development and management of the water resources schemes.

Necessary legal and institutional changes should be made at various levels for the purpose, duly ensuring appropriate role for women.

Water Users Associations and the local bodies such as municipalities and gram panchayats should particularly be involved in the operation, maintenance and management of water infrastructures/facilities at appropriate levels progressively, with a view to eventually transfer the management of such facilities to the user groups/local bodies.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 12.

Private Sector Participation:

Private sector participation should be encouraged in planning, development and management of water resources projects for diverse uses, wherever feasible. Private sector participation may help in introducing innovative ideas, generating financial resources and introducing corporate management and improving service efficiency and accountability to users.

Depending upon the specific situations, various combinations of private sector participation, in building, owning, operating, leasing and transferring of water resources facilities, may be considered.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 13.

Water Quality:

(i) Both surface water and ground water should be regularly monitored for quality. A phased programme should be undertaken for improvements in water quality.

(ii) Effluents should be treated to acceptable levels and standards before discharging them into natural streams.

(iii) Minimum flow should be ensured in the perennial streams for maintaining ecology and social considerations.

(iv) Principle of ‘polluter pays’ should be followed in management of polluted water.

(v) Necessary legislation is to be made for preservation of existing water bodes by preventing encroachment and deterioration of water quality.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 14.

Water Zoning:

Economic development and activities including agricultural, industrial and urban development, should be planned with due regard to the constraints imposed by the configuration of water availability. There should be a water zoning of the country and the economic activities should be guided and regulated in accordance with such zoning.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 15.

Conservation of Water:

(i) Efficiency of utilisation in all the diverse uses of water should be optimised and an awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered. Conservation consciousness should be promoted through education, regulation, incentives and disincentives.

(ii) The resources should be conserved and the availability augmented by maximising retention, eliminating pollution and minimising losses.

For this, measures like selective linings in the conveyance system, modernisation and rehabilitation of existing systems including tanks, recycling and re-use of treated effluents and adoption of traditional techniques like mulching or pitcher irrigation and new techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation may be promoted, wherever feasible.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 16.

Flood Control and Management:

(i) There should be a master plan for flood control and management for each flood prone basin.

(ii) Adequate flood-cushion should be provided in water storage projects, wherever feasible, to facilitate better flood management. In highly flood prone areas, flood control should be given overriding consideration in reservoir regulation policy even at the cost of sacrificing some irrigation or power benefits.

(iii) While physical flood protection works like embankments and dykes will continue to be necessary, increased emphasis should be laid on non-structural measures such as flood forecasting and warning, flood plain zoning and flood proofing for the minimisation of losses and to reduce the recurring expenditure on flood relief.

(iv) There should be strict regulation of settlements and economic activity in the flood prone zones along with flood proofing, to minimise the loss of life and property on account of floods.

(vi) The flood forecasting activities should be modernised, value added and extended to other uncovered areas. Inflow forecasting to reservoirs should be instituted for their effective regulation.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 17.

Land Erosion by Sea or River:

(i) The erosion of land, whether by the sea in coastal areas or by river waters inland, should be minimised by suitable cost-effective measures. The States and Union Territories should also undertake all requisite steps to ensure that indiscriminate occupation and exploitation of coastal strips of land are discouraged and that the location of economic activities in areas adjacent to the sea is regulated.

(ii) Each coastal State should prepare a comprehensive coastal land management plan, keeping in view the environmental and ecological impacts, and regulate the developmental activities accordingly.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 18.

Drought-prone Area Development:

(i) Drought-prone areas should be made less vulnerable to drought-associated problems through soil moisture conservation measures, water harvesting practices, minimisation of evaporation losses, development of the ground water potential including recharging and the transfer of surface water from surplus areas where feasible and appropriate.

Pastures, forestry or other modes of development which are relatively less water demanding should be encouraged. In planning water resource development projects, the needs of drought- prone areas should be given priority.

(ii) Relief works undertaken for providing employment to drought-stricken population should preferably be for drought proofing.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 19.

Monitoring of Projects:

(i) A close monitoring of projects to identity bottlenecks and to adopt timely measures to obviate time and cost overrun should form part of project planning and execution.

(ii) There should be a system to monitor and evaluate the performance and socio-economic impact of the project.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 20.

Water Sharing/Distribution amongst the States:

(i) The water sharing/distribution amongst the states should be guided by a national perspective with due regard to water resources availability and needs within the river basin. Necessary guidelines, including for water short states even outside the basin, need to be evolved for facilitating future agreements amongst the basin states.

(ii) The Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 may be suitably reviewed and amended for timely adjudication of water disputes referred to the Tribunal.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 21.

Performance Improvement:

There is an urgent need of paradigm shift in the emphasis in the management of water resources sector. From the present emphasis on the creation and expansion of water resources infrastructures for diverse uses, there is now a need to give greater emphasis on the improvement of the performance of the existing water resources facilities.

Therefore, allocation of funds under the water resources sector should be re-prioritised to ensure that the needs for development as well as operation and maintenance of the facilities are met.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 22.

Maintenance and Modernisation:

(i) Structures and systems created through massive investments should be properly maintained in good health. Appropriate annual provisions should be made for this purpose in the budgets.

(ii) There should be a regular monitoring of structures and systems and necessary rehabilitation and modernisation programmes should be undertaken.

(iii) Formation of Water Users’ Association with authority and responsibility should be encouraged to facilitate the management including maintenance of irrigation system in a time bound manner.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 23.

Safety of Structures:

There should be proper organisational arrangements at the national and state levels for ensuring the safety of storage dams and other water-related structures consisting of specialists in investigation, design, construction, hydrology, geology, etc.

A dam safety legislation may be enacted to ensure proper inspection, maintenance and surveillance of existing dams and also to ensure proper planning, investigation, design and construction for safety of new dams. The Guidelines on the subject should be periodically updated and reformulated. There should be a system of continuous surveillance and regular visits by experts.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 24.

Science and Technology:

For effective and economical management of our resources, the frontiers of knowledge need to be pushed forward in several directions by intensifying research efforts in various areas, including the following:

1. Hydrometeorology;

2. Snow and lake hydrology;

3. Surface and ground water hydrology;

4. River morphology and hydraulics;

5. Assessment of water resources;

6. Water harvesting and ground water recharge;

7. Water quality;

8. Water conservation;

9. Evaporation and seepage losses;

10. Recycling and re-use;

11. Better water management practices and improvements in operational technology;

12. Crops and cropping systems;

13. Soils and material research;

14. New construction materials and technology (with particular reference to roller compacted concrete, liber reinforced concrete, new methodologies in tunneling technologies, instrumentation, advanced numerical analysis in structures and back analysis);

15. Seismology and seismic design of structures;

16. Safety and longevity of water-related structures;

17. Economical designs for water resource projects;

18. Risk analysis and disaster management;

19. Use of remote sensing techniques in development and management;

20. Use of static ground water resource as a crisis management measure;

21. Prevention of sedimentation of reservoirs;

22. Use of sea water resources;

23. Prevention of salinity ingress;

24. Prevention of water logging and soil salinity;

25. Reclamation of water logged and saline lands;

26. Environmental impact;

27. Regional equity.

Water Policy: Key Benefit # 25.

Training:

A perspective plan for standardised training should be an integral part of water resource development.

It should cover training in information systems, sectoral planning, project planning and formulation, project management, operation of projects and their physical structures and systems and the management of the water distribution systems. The training should extend to all the categories of personnel involved in these activities as also the farmers.