Article

What is the National Water Policy? Drinking Water Issues

Author: Lakshay

Keywords: water, policy, national, policy, government, and management 

Abstract

Water is a prime national asset that becomes the part of basic needs of people. It is a part of a larger ecological system that’s why the planning and management of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives. Developing, conserving, and sustainably utilizing this important resource should be the prime focus of the government as we have entered the 21^st century. Also, water is one of the most abundant resources on earth but only 3% of its supply is available for human survival as fresh water. A major portion of this freshwater is in the form of ice caps and glaciers.

On the other hand, global water demand has been increasing at the rate of 1% per year which makes it a concerning factor. Moreover, the development and overexploitation of groundwater resources in certain parts of the country. That have raised the concern and need for judicious as well as scientific resource management and conservation. Now to deal with such a situation we have adopted a national water policy that addresses various such problems. 

This article talks about the importance of national water policies and how they are formulated. It also covers various policies and initiatives formed under the national water policy, of 2002 

Introduction 

Water is the most precious and one of the most crucial natural resources which have to be planned, developed, and managed based on the socio-economic aspects and needs of the states. All the major civilizations of the world have flourished near the bank of some or other river, this shows the importance of water in the evolution of mankind. It is a vital component not only for the agricultural industry but also used in various other sectors such as the transportation sector and forestry for recreation and preservation of the environment. Water is a part of a larger ecological system and realizing its scarcity in today’s world, it has to be treated as the essential environmental resource for sustaining all life forms.  (Sustainable development goal 6 of 2030 also recognizes the sustainable management of water. 

India accounts for about 2.5% of the world’s surface areas and about 4% of the world’s freshwater resources, ranking it among the top ten water-rich countries. Despite this according to the 4^th Assessment of the Inter-governmental panel on climate change, India has been designated as a water-stressed region. The per capita availability of water in India as a whole is reducing progressively due to the increase in population. Moreover, certain problems related to water logging and soil salinity have emerged in some irrigation commands. As well as developmental and over-exploitation of groundwater resources in certain parts of the country raised concerns and urgent demands for its management. 

All these concerns need to be adhered to based on common policies and various other strategies formulated by the joint efforts of central and state governments.   

The formulation process of the National Water Policy

In March 1983 first national water policy was established and it was adopted by National Water Resource Council. The national water resource council is one of the highest policies making body because of the following reasons: 

1. The Prime Minister of India is the chairman of NWRC and its vice-chairman is the Ministry of water resources. 
2. Further, its member comprises the Minister of state for water resources, the union ministers, or ministers of state from a few related central ministries. 
3. It also contains the Chief Minister of all states and Lieutenant Governors / Administrators of all the UTs. 
4. The Secretary, Minister of water resources is the secretary of the national water resource council. 

It is important to note here that since the chair of a council is placed on the highest political level of the prime minister, the council will not be able to meet often that’s why NWRC only meets to adopt national water policy. 

The process followed for the formulation of national water policy is that first of all the draft national water policy is first examined by the board, now based on the inputs received from the board, various changes are made to the draft, and a final draft is created. After the preparation of the final draft, it has to be sent to the council for its assessment and review. In the end council after reviewing the draft approves the national water policy. 

National Water Policy, 2002

National water policy, 2002 stipulates progressive new approaches toward water resource management. It stipulates water allocation priorities in the following areas: 

1. Drinking water 
2. Irrigation
3. Hydro-power
4. Navigation 
5. Industrial and other uses 

Key features of National Water Policy, 2002

• Irrigation and multi-purpose projects should invariably include drinking water components, wherever there is no alternative source of drinking water. 
• It should be the priority to provide drinking water to all human beings and animals. 
• Measures should be taken to limit and regulate the exploitation of groundwater. 
• Application of an effective method to regularly monitor the ground and surface water so that their quality can also be compared. Phased programming should be undertaken for improving water quality. 
• The efficiency of utilization in all the diverse areas of water should be improved. 
• Organizing various awareness programs to explain to people about the increasing scarcity of water and also to teach them effective ways to utilize water resources. 
• Conservation and consciousness related to the effective use of water can be promoted through education, incentives, and disincentives. 

Project Planning

Water resource development projects should be planned and developed in such a way that they can fulfill multiple needs related to water resources. The primary consideration during the planning and development of the project is to focus on the preservation of the quality of the environment and ecological balance. Following are some of the factors which are to be considered while project planning: 

• Water resource development projects should be developed and formulated to serve multi-purposes to consider various purposes related to water conservation and its supply to the general public. 
• While planning the project, the approach should be towards a sustainable project wherein adverse impacts on the environment should be minimized and adequate compensatory measures should be taken to decrease the adverse effects. 
• During the development and implementation of the project, a multi-disciplinary approach should be taken because environmental aspects, ecological aspects, and rehabilitation of affected people can be considered. These water resource developmental projects should also take necessary steps for the benefit of people of tribal areas and disadvantaged groups. 
• In the planning stage itself, the drainage system should form an integral part of any irrigation project. 
• Factors such as optimal allocation of resources and prioritization of resources by upgrading the quality of water projects. It can be used to tackle the problem related to cost overturns and inadequate funding can be solved. 

Ground Water Development

In India, one of the major resources of water is groundwater. As in recent years groundwater is severely exploited thus it becomes very important to regulate and monitor the use of groundwater. Under the national water policy, 2002 various initiatives are taken to manage the groundwater as follows: 

• Based on a scientific approach, periodic reassessment of groundwater must take place. Under this approach, a major focus will be to see the quality of water available and the economic viability of its extraction. 
• The use of groundwater resources should be regulated in such a manner that the recharging possibilities of groundwater should not be exceeded. Along with that exploitation of groundwater need to be effectively prevented by central and state governments. 
• For improving the quality and availability of groundwater, groundwater recharge projects should also be developed.
• During the project planning stage itself, the integrated development of surface water and groundwater resources should be focused on. 
• Over-exploitation of groundwater should be avoided especially near the coast to prevent the ingress of seawater into sweet water qualifiers. 

Irrigation 

In India major portion of water demand comes from irrigation. In 2010, irrigation sector has utilized 688 billion cubic-meters of water and it is estimated that in the year 2025. This demand will increase to 910 billion cubic meters, now to deal with these increasing needs of water. We have to focus on creating various policies and appropriate irrigating techniques to optimize water use efficiency. Some of the measures that can be taken to manage the use of water in irrigation sector are as follows: 

• Use of appropriate irrigation techniques for optimizing water use efficiency. Irrigation intensity should be extended in such a way that as many farm families can utilize its benefits. 
• There should be a close involvement in land use and water-use policies. 
• Water allocation in an irrigation system should be considered with due regard to equity and social justice.
• In all irrigation projects through the command area approach and by combined efforts, irrigation potential can be fully utilized… 
• Because Irrigation is the largest consumer of fresh water. The aim should be to get optimal productivity per unit of water. Farm practices, scientific water management, and sprinkler and drip systems of irrigation should be adopted wherever feasible. 
• Under the command area development program, reclamation of waterlogged / saline-affected land. By scientific and cost-effective methods should be focused on. 

Conservation of water and management of water quality

Conservation and consciousness related to the effective use of water can be promoted through education, incentives, and disincentives. The resources should be conserved and the availability augmented by maximizing retention, eliminating pollution, and minimizing losses. For this, initiatives like selective linings in the conveyance system, modernization of existing systems, adoption of traditional techniques. Like mulching or pitcher irrigation, and new techniques like drip and sprinkler may be promoted, wherever feasible.

A phased program should be undertaken for improvements in water quality. Both surface water and groundwater should be regularly monitored for quality. While managing the natural streams effluents should be treated to acceptable levels before discharging them into natural streams. In the pere-9+5nnial streams for maintaining ecology and social considerations, the minimum flow should be ensured. In the management of polluted water principle of ‘polluter pays’ should be followed. 

Conclusion

As we know that water is the most basic requirement for the entire living organism. It plays a major role in maintaining ecological balance and for economic and developmental activities of all kinds. Because of its increasing scarcity, management of this resource and its optimal, economical and equitable use has become a matter of the utmost urgency. Concerns of the community need to be taken into account for both water resources development and management. Maintaining a national consensus and adhering to its underlying principles can result in the success of the National Water Policy. To achieve the desired objectives, State Water Policy backed with an operational action plan shall be formulated in a time-bound manner say in two years. National Water Policy may be revised periodically as and when the need arises.

For any Query

Mail us at edumoundofficial@gmail.com