Lok Sabha Question No. 517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-23
Subject: Wastage of Water by Industries
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  †517**

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2015

**Wastage of Water by Industries**

†517. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to bring any legislation to check the wastage of water by industries;

(b) if so, the details thereof and whether the Government has taken any action in this regard so far; and

(c) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

The MinistER of STATE FOR Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

(PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) to (c) Water being a State Subject, State Governments take necessary measures for development and management of water resources, including measures for water use efficiency.

The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister, with Chief Ministers of all the States as Members, at its Meeting held on 28 th December, 2012 adopted the National Water Policy, 2012.The National Water Policy, 2012 has recognized the importance of water use efficiency and has inter-alia made the following recommendations in this regard:

1. Given the limits on enhancing the availability of utilizable water resources and increased variability in supplies due to climate change, meeting the future needs will depend more on demand management, and hence, this needs to be given priority, especially through (a) evolving an agricultural system which economizes on water use and maximizes value from water, and (b) bringing in maximum efficiency in use of water and avoiding wastages.

1. Water quality and quantity are interlinked and need to be managed in an integrated manner, consistent with broader environmental management approaches inter-alia including the use of economic incentives and penalties to reduce pollution and wastage.

1. In order to meet equity, efficiency and economic principles, the water charges should preferably / as a rule be determined on volumetric basis. Such charges should be reviewed periodically.

1. Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards, should also be incentivized through a properly planned tariff system.

1. The principle of differential pricing may be retained for the pre-emptive uses of water for drinking and sanitation; and high priority allocation for ensuring food security and supporting livelihood for the poor. Available water, after meeting the above needs, should increasingly be subjected to allocation and pricing on economic principles so that water is not wasted in unnecessary uses and could be utilized more gainfully.

The Policy has been circulated to all states for implementation

The Government of India has launched National Water Mission with the objective of ‘conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management’. One of the goals of National Water Mission is increasing water use efficiency by 20%. Under this goal, strategies have been recommended for increasing water use efficiency across different sectors, including industrial.

*****