Outcome Budget (2007-08) - Ministry of Water Resources

engaged, inter-alia, in research and development activities in the water resources
sector.
8. Keeping in view the necessity of awareness on water related issues
involving its conservation and judicious use, the Media Committee of the Ministry
has devised and implemented media related activities involving electronic, print
and traditional media. During the year 2006-07, the Ministry initiated campaign
through Doordarshan and All India Radio by way of telecasting/broadcasting of
video/audio spots to stress necessity of conservation of water. A number of
events viz. IITF, Water Asia, Krishi Expo, North East Trade Fair etc. were
participated to educate visitors in interactive manner. The print media viz.
newspapers etc. was also utilized by releasing press advertisements, cartoon
booklets, posters etc. to popularize concept of water conservation and rainwater
harvesting. The National Water Policy of 2002 (NWP) recommends private sector
participation i.e. Public-Private–Partnership. In this regard paragraph 13 of the
NWP is reproduced below:
“Private sector participation should be encouraged in planning,
development and management of water resources projects for diverse
uses, wherever feasible. Private sector participation may help in introducing
innovative ideas, generating financial resources and introducing corporate
management and improving service efficiency and accountability to users.
Depending upon the specific situations, various combinations of private
sector participation, in building, owning, operating, leasing and transferring
of water resources facilities, may be considered”.
This involves some complex issues, e.g. controlling the private operator’s access
to water; protecting the interests of other competing users from the same source of
water; guarding the interests of the poor at the supply end; ensuring stated quality
of service under monopoly conditions; limiting the profit made by the private
operator to reasonable levels; defining what are reasonable levels of profit; etc
9. The year 2007 has been declared as Water Year. It has been decided to
lay greater emphasis on publicity measures through electronic, print and traditional
media in an interactive manner.
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