For the better part of 2009, the Ministry of Water Resources appeared to be drifting. In the light of the focus on climate change, it had to perforce change tack from its foremost agenda of constructing mega projects to evolving strategies for water conservation, rainwater harvesting and equitable distribution of water.
However, no firmed-up policies were announced because the Ministry’s Mission Document on Climate Change awaits clearance from the Prime Minister since July. Till that is cleared, the Ministry stayed stuck on measures it must take to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
That it has a Minister (Pawan Kumar Bansal) with Water Resources as additional charge does not help matters.
The melting glaciers, perceived rise in sea levels and changing rainfall patterns will make it incumbent upon governments to evolve strategies for the water sector. An assessment of the implications of climate change for hydrological regimes and water resources indicates that once the snow melt effect has passed, by the year 2050, the average annual runoff in rivers like the Brahmaputra, for instance, will decline. Besides over-exploitation of groundwater, the seawater ingress, with rising sea levels, is projected to impact groundwater quality. These are issues that demand immediate attention.
Following the announcement of National Water Mission, the Ministry constituted six sub-committees to overlook policy and institutional framework; surface water management; ground water management; domestic and industrial water management; efficient use of water for various purpose; and basin level planning and management. Based on the reports of the Sub-Committees and other stakeholders, including states and NGOs, the draft of the Mission Document has been readied for approval.
The Mission Document outlines plans for “conservation of water, minimising wastage and ensuring equitable distribution of water through integrated water resources management.” The goals that have been identified include transparency in water data base, assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources, promotion of citizen and state actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation, focused attention to over-exploited areas, increasing water use efficiency by 20 per cent and promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.
In addition to this, the Ministry proposes to create an irrigation potential of 10.50 lakh hectares in 2009-10 at a projected cost of Rs.12,285 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme. A budgetary allocation of Rs.8,000 crore, including Rs.1,800 crore for the national projects, has already been made. No figures, however, were immediately available on how much potential was created in 2009. At the same time, only Rs.750 crore was released for completion of national projects with Central assistance of 90 per cent, pushing back the programme.
The Ministry did not project in its official press release any major advancement during the year in the States’ adoption of the Participatory Irrigation Management programme, Model Ground Water Bill and rivers inter-linking programme.
