National Water Policy

1.1 Water is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national asset Planning and development of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives.

1.2 It has been estimated that out of the total precipitation of around 400 million hectare meters in the country, the surface water availability is about 178 million hectare metres. Out of this about 50 % can be put to beneficial use because of topographical and other constraints. In addition there is a ground water potential of about 42 million hectare metres. The availability of water is highly uneven in both space and time. Precipitation is confined to only about three of four months in the year and varies from 10 cm in the western parts of Rajasthan to over 1000 cm. At Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. Further, water does not respect state boundaries. Not merely rivers but even underground aquifers often cut across state boundaries. Water as a resources in one and indivisible : rainfall, river waters, surface ponds and lakes and ground water are al part of one system, water is also a part of larger ecological system.

1.3 Floods and drought affected vast areas of the country, transcending state boundaries. A third of the country is drought prone. Floods affect an average area of around 9 million hectares per year. According to the National Commission on floods, the area susceptible to floods is around 40 million hectares. The approach to the management of drought and floods has to be coordinated and guided at the national level.

1.4 Even the planning and implementation of individual irrigation or multi purpose projects, though done at the state level, involve a number of aspects and issues such as environmental protection, rehabilitation of project- affected people and livestock, public health consequences of water impoundment, dam safety, etc. On these matter common approaches and weaknesses have affected a large number of projects all over the country.. There have been substantial time and cost overruns on projects. In some irrigation commands, problems of water logging and soil salinity have emerged, leading to the degradation of good agricultural land. There are also complex problems of equity and social justice in regard to water distribution. The development and exploitation of the countrys groundwater resources also give rise to questions of judicious and scientific resource management and conservation. All these questions need to be tackled on the basis of common policies and strategies.

1.5 The growth process and the expansion of economic activities inevitably lead to increasing demands for water for diverse purpose: domestic, industrial, agricultural, hydro-power, navigation, recreation, etc. So far, the principal consumptive use of water has been for irrigation. While the irrigation potential is estimated to have increased from 19.5 million hectares at the time of Independence to about 68 million hectares at the end of Sixth plan, further development of a substantial order is necessary if the food and fiber needs of a growing population are to be met. The countrys population which is over750 million at present is expected to reach a level of around 1000 million by the turn of the century.

1.6 The production of foodgrains has increased from around 50 million tonnes in the fifties to about 150 million tonnes at present, but this will have to be raised to around 240 million tonnes by the year 200 A.D. The drinking water needs of people and livestock have also to be met. In keeping with the objective of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade Programme (1981-1991), adequate drinking water facilities have to be provided to the entire population in both urban and rural areas and sanitation facilities to 80 % of the urban population and 25% of the rural population by the end of the decade. Domestic and industrial water needs have largely been concentrated in or near the principal cities, but the demand from rural society is expected to increased sharply as the development programme improve economic conditions in the rural areas. The demand for water for hydro and thermal power generation and for other industrializes is also likely to increase substantially As a result water which is already a scarce resource will become even scarcer in future. This underscores the need for the utmost efficiency in water utilization and a public awareness of the importance of its conservation.

1.7 Another important aspect is water quality. Improvements in existing strategies and the innovation of new techniques resting on a strong science and technology base will be needed to eliminate the pollution of surface and ground water resources, to improve water quality and to step up the recycling and re-use of water. Science and technology and training have also important roles to play in water resources development in general.

1.8 Water is one of the most crucial elements in developmental planning. As the country prepares itself to enter the 21^st century, effect to develop, conserve, utilise and manage this important resource have to be guided by national perspectives. The need for a national water policy is thus abundantly clear : water is a scarce and precious national resource to be planned, developed and conserved as such, and on an integrated and environmentally sound basis, keeping in view the needs of the State concerned.