India 2018

520 India 2018
Subarnarekha and western flowing rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari) to study
the impact of climate change in association with research institutes like IITs,
NITs, IISc. and NIH under the R & D scheme of the Ministry; (iv) Human
Resource Development/and Capacity Building/Awareness Creation: NWM has
prepared guidelines for organizing HRD/training/capacity building/mass
awareness programmes. 25 training/capacity building/mass awareness
programmes have been organized to address various strategies; (v) Preparation
of State Specific Action Plans (SSAP) for water resources: National Water Mission
has initiated actions to prepare State Specific Action Plan (SSAP) for water sector
covering irrigation, agriculture, domestic water supply, industrial water supply
and waste water utilization in respect of all the states/UTs.
National Water Policy
The National Water Policy, 2012 was adopted to conserve, develop and better
manage water resources in the country. Emphasis on the need for a national
water framework law; comprehensive legislation for optimum development of
inter-state rivers and river valleys; evolving a system of benchmarks for water
uses for different purposes to ensure efficient use of water; setting up of Water
Regulatory Authority in each state; and incentivizing recycle and reuse of water
are some of the important recommendations in the National Water Policy. The
Policy also lays emphasis on community participation in management of water
resources projects and services; incentivizing water saving in irrigation through
methods like aligning cropping pattern with natural resource endowments, micro
irrigation, automated irrigation operation, evaporation-transpiration reduction,
etc; undertaking conservation of rivers, river corridors, water bodies and
infrastructure in a scientifically planned manner through community
participation; and arresting declining ground water levels in over-exploited
areas.
National Water Resources Council
The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) was set up in March, 1983. The
Prime Minister is the Chairman and Union Minister of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
National Water Board
A National Water Board was constituted in 1990 to review the progress achieved
in implementation of the National Water Policy and to report the progress to
the National Water Resources Council from time to time.
National Forum of Water Resources
A National Forum of Water Resources and Irrigation Ministers of States was
constituted by Ministry of Water Resources in 2012 with the following terms of
reference : (i) to deliberate on various reforms needed in the water resources
sector from time to time and attempt towards evolving consensus at the national
level; and (ii) to provide appropriate platform for sharing of ideas and facilitating
support to new and innovative ideas and initiatives for better water governance
proposed by the central and/or state governments.