(a) whether the Government is considering to review the National Water Policy;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the National Action Plan on Climate Change envisages revisiting the National Water Policy in consultation with the States to ensure basin level management strategies to deal with variability in rainfall and river flow due to climate change;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this direction and the outcome thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS ( SHRI VINCENT H. PALA )
(a) & (b) Government of India has initiated actions to review National Water Policy, 2002. A drafting committee has been set up to draft the National Water Policy taking into account the feedback received during consultation meetings held with the Members of Parliament, Academia, Experts & Professionals, Non-Governmental Organizations, Corporate Leaders and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
(c) to (e) Government of India has launched National Water Mission under National Action Plan on Climate Change envisaging, inter-alia, review of National Water Policy, particularly with a view to ensure
(i) integrated Water Resources Management for helping to conserve water, minimizing wastage and ensuring more equitable distribution,
(ii) consideration of precipitation as basic water resource,
(iii) evaporation management as an important strategy,
(iv) basin level management strategies,
(v) appropriate entitlement and pricing, and
(vi) appropriate regulatory mechanism. A series of consultation meetings has been held with the Members of Parliament, Academia, Experts & Professionals, Non-Governmental Organizations, Corporate Leaders and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions regarding review of National Water Policy. A Drafting Committee has been set up to draft the National Water Policy.