THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) A Committee constituted by this Ministry on 28.12.2015 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mihir Shah has suggested draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 which inter-alia provides for an overarching national legal framework with principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource, under which legislation and executive action on water at all levels of governance, as also water-use and water-related actions by persons and their associations, public and private institutions and bodies corporate of all kinds, can take place. The salient features of the draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 are annexed.
(b) The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) in its Report (1999) has estimated that the water requirement for irrigation for the year 2010 would be about 557 Cubic Kilometer (Km3) (nearly 78%) out of the total water requirement for different purposes of 710 Km3. According to this report, the water requirement for irrigation for the year 2025 would be about 611 Km3 (nearly 72%) out of the total water requirement for different purposes of 843 Km3.
(c) & (d) Water being a State Subject, State Governments undertake several measures for augmenting, conserving and utilizing the water resources including changing the agricultural practices to reduce the use of water. Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to the State Governments in this regard through various schemes and programmes.
Central Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation ‘Har Khet ko Pani’ and improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop’ in a focused manner with end to end solution on source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities.
Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards as well as rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge are being incentivized through various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.
This Ministry has launched Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015-16 to 2017-18) in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.
The National Water Policy, 2012 formulated by this Ministry has several recommendations for increasing water use efficiency in agriculture sector. Some of the recommendations are mentioned below:
• The adaptation strategies could also include better demand management, particularly, through adoption of compatible agricultural strategies and cropping patterns and improved water application methods, such as land leveling and/or drip / sprinkler irrigation as they enhance water use efficiency, as also, the capability for dealing with increased variability because of climate change. Similarly, industrial processes should be made more water efficient.
• Water saving in irrigation is of paramount importance. Methods like aligning cropping pattern with natural resource endowments, micro irrigation (drip, sprinkler, etc.), automated irrigation operation, evaporation-transpiration reduction, etc., is encouraged and incentivized. Recycling of canal seepage water through conjunctive ground water is also considered.
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Annexure
(Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) of the Unstarred Question No.2376 to be answered on 16.03.2017 in the Lok Sabha regarding “Regulation of Water Usage”)
SALIENT FEATURES OF DRAFT NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL, 2016
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The draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 seeks to provide an overarching national legal framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource, under which legislation and executive action on water at all levels of governance can take place.
2. The Bill proposes that every individual should have a right to sufficient quantity of safe water for life within easy reach based on the principles of integrated river basin management. The States shall hold water resources as a Common Heritage and Public Trust.
3. The draft Bill proposes that the appropriate government shall strive towards rejuvenating river systems with community participation, ensuring:
(a) ‘Aviral Dhara’ – continuous flow in time and space including maintenance of connectivity of flow in each river system;
(b) ‘Nirmal Dhara’ – unpolluted flow so that the quality of river waters is not adversely affected by human activities; and
(c) ‘Swachh Kinara’ – clean and aesthetic river banks with ecological integrity.
4. It proposes that the appropriate government shall take all measures to protect the ecological integrity necessary to sustain eco-systems dependent on water and should adopt people-centered decentralized water management, for both surface and ground water, including local rainwater harvesting, watershed development and participatory irrigation management, shall be prioritized, while recognizing, encouraging and empowering local initiatives.
5. It proposes that the appropriate Government shall take into consideration the following:
(a) Water Use and Land Use
(b) Appropriate Treatment and Use of Wastewater
(c) Standards for Water Quality and Water Footprints
(d) Water Use Prioritization.
Provided that these uses of water are consistent with the objective of sustaining aquifers and eco-system indispensable to long term sustenance of the resource.
6. The draft Bill lays high priority to Integrated River Basin Development and Management, wherein a river basin, including associated aquifers, shall be considered as the basis hydrological unit for planning, development and management of water. Each State Government shall develop, manage and regulate basins of inter-State rivers through a River Basin Master Plan to be implemented by an appropriate institutional mechanism.
7. It proposes establishment of a River Basin Authority for each inter-State river basin for optimum and sustainable development of the inter-State rivers and river valleys, with active participation and cooperation by all basin States to ensure equitable, sustainable and efficient utilisation of water resources with emphasis on demand management through conjunctive and integrated use of resources. Each River Basin Authority shall prepare a Master Plan for the River Basin.
8. The Bill also proposes that the appropriate Government shall prepare and oversee the implementation of a Water Security Plan for (a) attainment of sufficient quantity of safe water for life and sustainable livelihoods by every person; and (b) ensuring water security even in times of emergencies like droughts and floods.
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