MAJOR INITIATIVES IN
WATER RESOURCES SECTOR
A Task Force on Inter-linking
of Rivers was set up by the Ministry of Water Resources for arriving
at consensus among states and transfer of surplus water to deficit
areas besides identifying major links which could be implemented
on a priority basis. The Task Force, headed by Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Member of Parliament has Shri C. C. Patel as Vice-Chairman and
Dr. C. D. Thatte, as Member-Secretary. In addition to the above
members of Task Force, part time members from water deficit and
surplus states, an economist, a sociologist and a legal/world
wildlife expert will also be nominated in consultation with the
Chairman of the Task Force and with the approval of the Prime
Minister.
National Water Policy –2002
The National Water
Policy –2002 was adopted by the National Water Resources Council
(NWRC) under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister on April 1, 2002.
A draft action plan for implementation of the Policy was deliberated
upon with the Non-Governmental/voluntary organistations through
a series of workshops organised at Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Delhi,
Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow and Pune.
One of the major
shifts the Policy focuses on is the active community participation
in the planning, development and management of water resources.
The present policy has given a direct impetus to the community
participation in all facets of water management. However, there
are certain legal empowerment that need to be provided to make
the community participation more effective and focussed. The capacities
of the communities have to be built to enable them to participate
in a more educated and effective manner. In order to bring about
all round economic development it is also important that the water
resources and the fruits of the development are equitable and
just. With the increasing demand and scarcity of water, it is
also important that all the water resources that are developed
are used efficiently and at the same time the existing water resources
are conserved.
Command Area Development
The centrally sponsored
Command Area Development (CAD) programme of the Ministry is proposed
to be restructured and renamed as Command Area Development and
Water Management (CADWM) Scheme during 10th Plan. The
Scheme will also include correction of system deficiencies/rehabilitation
of the system for reliable availability of water to farmers; increasing
involvement of beneficiaries by expanding the scope of water users’
associations in the construction and maintenance of on farm development
works; provision of linkage of field drains with immediate and
main drains for letting out surplus water; total assistance for
the dissemination of technical know-how among farmers, adoptive
trials, demonstrations and training programmes and inclusion of
minor irrigation projects under CAD.
A new era in the
India-China relations opened up with the signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding in January, 2002 for provision of hydrological
information like rainfall, water level, discharge and other relevant
information on Yaluzangbu/ Brahmaputra river in respect of 3 stations
viz Nugesha, Yangeun and Nuxia in flood season by China to India.
As a follow up this MoU and implementation programme was also
signed according to which the Chinese side has started transmitting
data to India for the above mentioned stations since June, 2002.
On the recommendation
of Indo-Nepal Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) the Committee
on Flood Forecasting was set up in last year. The 2nd
meeting of the Committee on Flood Forecasting was held at Kathmandu
in May 2002. An important achievement of the meeting was that
the Nepalese side agreed for transmission of data on real time
basis in respect of the five identified key hydrometric stations
located in Nepal on rivers Narayani (Gandak), Kosi, Rapti, Bagmati
and Kankal (Mahananda), thus facilitating the issue of flood forecasts
by Central Water Commission on real time basis in respect of the
above rivers flowing from Nepal.
Under a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme namely "Critical anti-erosion works in Ganga
Basin States" the Government of India released Central Assistance
of Rs. 27.61 crore to the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal
and West Bengal to take up the critical anti-erosion works.
A Hydrogeological
Map of India has been brought out which contains valuable information
relating to ground water resources, their quantity and quality,
geology, extent of ground water bodies, areas affected with ground
water scarcity, ground water resource potential etc.
Master Plan on
Artificial Recharge
A Master Plan for
artificial recharge has been prepared identifying the area feasible
for artificial recharge in various States and UTs. The plan has
been prepared on the basis of hydrogeological and hydrological
parameters. The Master Plan envisages harnessing of 36 cubic kilometres
runoff out of substantial runoff going unutilised in first phase
which can further be expanded based on experience gained and benefits
accrued. The total number of artificial recharge structures proposed
are 2.25 lakh in rural areas and 37 lakh in urban areas.
Mass Awareness
and Training Programmes
The Central Ground
Water Authority (CGWA) under its regular activity, organises mass
awareness and training programmes on ground water, which include
rain water harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water.
During the year 2002, the CGWA has conducted 21 training courses
on rain water harvesting in different parts of the country. The
CGWA has also conducted mass awareness programmes with the objective
to conserve, augment and protect the ground water resources of
the country. During the year 2002, the Authority has conducted
28 mass awareness programmes in different parts of the country.
