WATER GOVERNANCE-DISCONNECT BETWEEN STATE AND CENTRE GOVERNMENT

Water governance is fragmented and, as a result, leads to inconsistent water policy between the central and state governments. This fragmentation makes the task of implementing a holistic policy faraway difficult. In India according to Constitution, each of the twenty-eight states of the Union is responsible for dealing with their own water issues.

However, the federal government has the constitutional mandate to resolve issues that arise out of the use of interstate rivers. This complexity of governance in water sector and all levels from the central government down to the field level officials who deal with farmers and industry have to recognize the water challenges and the need for coordinated action for proper implementation of Water policies in India.

STRATEGIES

1. ECOSYSTEM

Ecosystems are increasingly seen as solutions to water problems, not just as a casualty. This is a welcome and positive trend as it also reflects improvement in dialogue and a step towards better integrated water resources management, and therefore more sustainable development.

Ecosystems – including, for example, Forests, Wetlands And Grassland Components – lie at the heart of the global water cycle. All freshwater ultimately depends on the continued healthy functioning of ecosystems, and recognizing the water cycle as a biophysical process is essential to achieving sustainable water management.

2. INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (IWRM)

The World Water Council (2000) define the IWRM as a philosophy that holds that water must be viewed from a holistic perspective, both in its natural state and in balancing competing demands on it – Agricultural, Industrial And Environmental. Management Of Water Resources And Services need to reflect the interaction between these different demands, and so must be coordinated within and across sectors.

1. RAIN WATER HARVESTING ( RWH)

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a simple method by which rainfall is collected for future usage. The collected rainwater may be stored, utilised in different ways or directly used for recharge purposes.

With depleting groundwater levels and fluctuating climate conditions, RWH can go a long way to help mitigate these effects. Capturing the rainwater can help recharge Local Aquifers, Reduce Urban Flooding and most importantly ensure Water Availability In Water-Scarce Zones.

It was, and is even today, a traditional practice followed in rural India. Some ancient rainwater harvesting methods followed in India include madakas, ahar pynes, surangas, taankas and many more.

This water conservation method can be easily practiced in individual Homes, Apartments, Parks, Offices And Temples too, across the world. Farmers have recharged their Dry Borewells, Created Water Banks in drought areas, greened their farms, increased sustainability of their water resources and even created a river.

2. WATER SMART AGRICULTURE

The world is now looking towards “water- smart” production by recognizing the links between water and other resources and socio- economics of poor harvest management.

Automation, computer controlled decision support systems, on demand irrigation through creation of level pools in canals, using real time soil moisture data to decide irrigation doses etc. are important means of improving efficiency. More efficient techniques such as Drip Irrigation, Low Pressure Sprinklers are currently being used to increase the water productivity.

3. GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

By improved groundwater monitoring and protection, for setting priorities for action based on assessment of aquifer vulnerability and contaminant loading, and for adoption of early warning monitoring strategies.

Regulation of groundwater usage for e.g. The Groundwater Management Bill, fixing the responsibilities of different stakeholders in the conservation and pricing etc.

4. INTEGRATION IN WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

At the National Level, where national water management plans and water agencies give water resource management a place in national policies enabling the integration of water management with policies in other fields.

At the Regional Level, where integrated water resource management concerns main operational hydrological units: River Basins, Lake Catchments Or Aquifers. Here, the main challenge will be to balance the interests and policies of different stake holders and to bring water management as carried out by the different water users and operators together under a common umbrella.

At The Local Level, where important gains and win-win situations are possible, e.g. by integrating irrigation management, water supply, ground water recharge and storm water management: or by bringing together irrigation, drainage, and reuse management; or by taking joint account of water quality and quantity; or by improving the management of main water operators- such as water supply companies, irrigation agencies and farmer groups.

Better management to reduce the demand for the water has great potential to reduce water stress and hydropower requirements. An improved system, management, particularly for irrigated agriculture, has tremendous potential for reducing waste, while increasing the efficiency of irrigation systems.