(a) whether water management has a special role in the economic development of the nation;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether re-cycling of water is necessary for increasing the availability of water and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(d) the percentage of polluted water that can be recycled for use out of the total quantum of polluted water being generated in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
*****
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO †*154 REGARDING “WATER MANAGEMENT” BY PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2018
(a) & (b) Development and management of water plays a vital role in economic development of the Nation. The National Water Policy (2012) states that water needs to be managed as a common pool community resource, held by the State, under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, support livelihood, and ensure equitable and sustainable development for all. Water being a State subject, measures for management of water resources are primarily taken by respective State Governments. The Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance through various centrally funded programmes. The ongoing key programmes, whereby management and distribution of river waters is sought to be continuously improved, include Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Flood Management & Border Area Programme (FMBAP). Further, aiming for nation-wide water reforms, the Union Ministry is also striving for bringing consensus on certain key initiatives including National Water Framework, River Basin Management, Inter-basin Transfer of River Water and Improving Water-use Efficiency.
(c) Yes, recycling of water is necessary for increasing the availability of water. The availability of water is limited but the demand of water is increasing rapidly due to growing population, rapid urbanization, rapid industrialization and economic development. Therefore, availability of water for utilization needs to be augmented to meet increasing demands of water. The National Water Policy (2012) accordingly recommends that recycle and reuse of water should become the general norm.
Recycling of canal irrigation water is often achieved through conjunctive ground water use. Most of the industries are directed to reuse the treated water for the washing and cleaning of the processing unit floors, containers, reuse for gardening purpose etc. The capacities of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are also being continuously augmented for treating urban waste water for its possible reuse.
(d) Some of the States have also formulated / are formulating State policy for recycle and reuse of treated water. Polluted water, after treatment, can be recycled and reused for various purposes including irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, ground water recharge etc. The extant up to which treated water can be reused will depend on various factors including quantum of treated water available, the location of Sewage Treatment Plant and its proximity to the user agency, economics of such reuse etc.