Lok Sabha Question No. 1754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-28
Subject: National Water Policy
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Shrirang Appa Barne, Hemant Patil, Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod, DNV Senthilkumar. S.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1754

ANSWERED ON 2 8.11 .2019

## NATIONAL WATER POLIC Y

| 1754.   | SHRI VINAYAK RAUT SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.   | SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the salient features of the National Water Policy, 2012;

(b) whether the existing N ational Water Policy was found to be inadequate to resolve the various wa and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government plans to come out with an updated version of the National Water Poli the details thereof;

(d) whet her the Government has conducted any meeting with the States to review the steps taken States on water conservation and the implementation of action plans to deal with the water supply so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has also requested the States/UTs to constitute a committee to monitor of water conservation/harvesting and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the time by which a comprehensive new National Water Policy is likely to be announ ced and implemented?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) to (f) The salient features of National Water Policy 2012 are enclosed as Annexure . Many challenges have emerged significantly in water sector, which requires to be addressed through appropriate revi Water Policy. In order to meet the present challenges in water sector, revision of National Wate been env isaged by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, M of Jal Shakti and a drafting committee has been constituted on 5 th November, 2019 to revise the National Wate Policy. The revision of National Water Policy requires wider consultation with various stakeho State Governments.

A meeting of the State Ministers in - charge of Water Resources, Water Supply and S anitation was held on 11 th June  2019  at  New  Delhi  to  review  the  steps  taken  by  various  States  on  water  conservat implementation  of  action  plans  to  deal  with  the  water  supply  situation,  plan  for  water conservation  in  convergence  wi th  other  programmes.  State  Governments  were  requested  to  complete conservation measures for large - scale rain water harvesting.

Government of India has launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), a water conservation campaign being implemented in 25 6 water - stressed districts of the country. The Phase -I was implemented from 1 st July, 2019 to 30 th September, 2019 across the country and Phase -II is being implemented from 1 st October, 2019 to 30 th November, 2019 in the Southern States which receive retre ating monsoon. During the campaign, officer groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India have worked with State and Distri these  districts  to  promote  water  conservation  and  water  resource  management  by  focusing  on rated implementation  of  five  target  interventions,  viz.  water  conservation  &  rainwater  harvesting, traditional and other water bodies/ tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells, watershed developme afforestation. With this campa ign, huge awareness has been generated and various stakeholders, viz. go departments,  agencies,  NGOs,  officials,  Panchayats,  individuals,  etc.  have  started  taking conservation.

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## ANNEXURE Annexure referred to in reply to part s (a) to (f) of LokSabha Unstarred Question No. 1754

## to be answered on 28.11.2019 regarding 'National Water Policy'.

## Salient features of National Water Policy 2012

- Emphasis  on  the  need  for  a  national  water  framework  law, comprehensive  legislation  for optimum development of inter - State rivers and river valleys.
- Water,  after  meeting  the  pre - emptive  needs  for  safe  drinking  water  and  sanitation,  achiev food  security,  supporting  poor  people  dependent  on  agriculture  for  their livelihood  and  high priority allocation for minimum eco - system needs, be treated as economic good so as to promote its conservation and efficient use.
- A  portion  of  river  flows  should  be  kept  aside  to  meet  ecological  needs  ensuring proportional lo w and high flow releases correspond in time closely to the natural flow reg
- Adaptation  strategies  in  view  of  climate  change  for  designing  and  management  of resources structures and review of acceptability criteria has been emphasized.
- A system to evolve benchmarks for water uses for different purposes, i.e., water footpri water  auditing  be  developed  to  ensure  efficient  use  of  water.  Project  financing suggested as a tool to incentivize efficient & economic use of water.
- Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority has been recommended. Incentivization of recyc re - use has been recommended.
- Water Users Associations should be given statutory powers to collect and retain a po water  charges,  manage  the  volumetric  qua ntum  of  water  allotted  to  them  and  maintain  the distribution system in their jurisdiction.
- Water  resources  projects  and  services  should  be  managed  with  community  participa Wherever the State Governments or local governing bodies so decide, the private sector can b encouraged to become a service provider in public private partnership model to meet terms of service delivery, including penalties for failure.
- Compatible  agricultural  strategies  and  cropping  patterns  and  improved  water  appl me thods,  such  as  land  leveling  and/or  drip  /  sprinkler  irrigation  should  be  adopte challenges of climate change. Industrial processes should be made more water efficient.
- Declining  ground  water  levels  in  over - exploited  areas  should  be  arrested  by  in troducing improved  technologies  of  water  use,  incentivizing  efficient  water  use  and  encou community based management of aquifers. In addition, where necessary, artificial rec projects should be undertaken.
- An institutional arrangement for prom otion, regulation and evolving mechanisms for efficien use of water at basin/sub -basin level should be established at the national level
- Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) taking river basin / sub -basin as a unit should be the main principle for planning, development and management of water resources