Chapter-4: Water Resources India Year Book 4. Water Resources Ministry of water resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvination (MWRRDGR):
Namami Gange
- MWRRDGR lays down policies and programmes for development and regulation of the water resources of the country.
- It covers:
- Policy
- Groundwater
- Sectoral planning
- Central assistance
- Flood management
- Command area development
- Major-medium and minor irrigation
- Techno-economic appraisal of projects
- Resolution of inter-state water disputes
- River development and Ganga rejuvenation etc.
Water should be conserved for efficient use and must be treated as economic good, after meeting the pre-emptive needs.
- It has been an integrated Ganga Conservation Mission.
- In addition a sum has been allocated for development of Ghats and beautification of river fronts at various places.
- Accordingly, Namami Gange approaches Ganga Rejuvenation by consolidating the existing ongoing efforts and planning for a concrete action plan for future.
National Water Mission (NWM) It is one of the missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) prepared by Gol, to meet the challenges of climate change. Objectives/Goals:
- A portion of river flows should be kept aside to meet ecological needs.
- There is a need for a national water framework law, comprehensive legislation for optimum development of inter-state rivers and river valleys.
- Statutory powers should be provided to Water Users Associations for collecting & retaining a portion of water & managing the volumetric quantum of water.
- Ecological needs of the river should be determined recognizing that river flows are characterized by flow variability and should accommodate development needs.
National Water Policy The National Water Policy was adopted by the National Water Resources Council in 2012. Salient Features
- Increasing water use efficiency by 20%.
- Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.
- Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas.
- Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation.
- Comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of impact of Climate Change on water resource.
National Water Resources Council (NWRC)
- Setting up a Water Regulatory Authority.
- Development of Water footprints, & water auditing.
- Adaptation strategies in view of climate change for management of water.
- Managing the services and Water resources projects with community participation and PPP approach.
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (ABIP)
- NWRC was set up by the Gol in 1983.
- Its members are:
- PM is the Chairman
- Union Minister of Water Resources is the Vice-Chairman
- Administrators of the UTs.
- Chief Ministers of all states.
- Lieutenant Governors of the UTs
- Minister of State for Water Resources
- Concerned Union Ministers/Ministers of State
Pradjan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
- AIBP was launched during 1996-97 to give loan assistance to the states to help them complete some of the major/medium irrigation projects which were in an advanced stage of completion & create additional irrigation potential in India.
- After commencement of this programme 142 major/medium and 12083 Surface Ml Schemes have so far been completed.
Jal Kranti Abhiyan
- PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes,i.e.:
- On Farm Water Management (OFWM)
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
- The scheme will be implemented by Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development.
- Ministry of Rural Development is to mainly undertake:
- Rain water conservation
- Construction of farm pond
- Water harvesting structures, small check dams and contour bunding etc.
Objectives:
- Jal Kranti Abhiyan was celebrated during the year 2015-16 to consolidate water management and conservation, by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Bhujal Manthan: Ministry, through CGWB, organized one day Bhujal Manthan in Haryana in 2015 as a part of Jal Kranti Abhiyan.
- Enhancing livelihood security through water security in rural areas.
- Encouraging the adoption/utilization of traditional knowledge in water resources conservation and its management.
- Strengthening grass root involvement of all stakeholders including Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies in the water security and development schemes (e.g. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).
Aquifer Mapping and Aquifer Management Plan
- Public representatives, ground-water experts, central and state governments, farmers, students, and NGO, etc. from across India participated.
Objectives OF NPAM
- Aquifers are natural rock formations which can store & economically yield water.
- In the 12th CGWB has taken up National Project on Aquifer Management (NPAM) to facilitate identification, delineation, characterization and management of aquifers to ensure sustainability of ground-water resources.
Central Water Commission (CWC): It is headed by a chairman with status of an Ex-Officio Secretary to the Govt of India. CWC is apex Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources. It is presently functioning as an attached office of Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Functions of CWC:
- Groundwater management.
- Formation of aquifer management.
- Delineation of aquifers in 3D on 1:50,000 scale in priority areas.
- Detailed characterization of aquifers including quality of ground water.
It also undertakes the investigations, construction and execution of any such schemes as required. WINGS OF CWC (headed by an Ex-Officio Additional Secretary):
- It is charged with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating in consultation of State Govts schemes for control, utilization and conservation of water resources throughout the country.
- These schemes are meant for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.
Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), New Delhi, deals with the filed exploration, lab investigations, and basic and research in geotechnical engineering and Civil engineering, particularly for construction of river valley projects and safety evaluation of existing dams. IMPORTANT RIVER BOARDS IN INDIA
- Design and Research Wing (D&R)
- Water Planning and Project Wing (WP&P)
- River Management Wing (RM)
National Water Development Agency (NWDA)-1982 Objectives:
- The Farakka Barrage Project is designed to serve Kolkata Port and navigability of the Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system.
- Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC). with its headquarters at Patna, created in 1972 to deal with floods and its management in Ganga Basin States.
- The Tungabhadra Board was constituted by the President for completion of the Tungabhadra project for hydro- power generation, irrigation etc.
- Betwa River Board (BRB): B.RB was constituted in 1976 by an Act of Parliament to execute Rajghat Dam Project and Power House. It involved MP & UP.
- Sardar Sarovar Construction Advisory. Committee (SSCAC) was constituted by the GoI as per Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) in September 1980.
- Upper Yamuna River Board: constituted the Upper Yamuna River Board in 1995 for the supply of water to the basin states, viz. UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and NCT of Delhi and Uttarakhand.
WAPCOS (Water & Power Consultancy Services) Limited-1969
- To carry out detailed surveys and investigations of possible reservoir sites and inter-connecting links in order to establish the feasibility of the proposal of peninsular rivers development and Himalayan rivers development components forming part of the National Perspective for Water Resources Development.
- To prepare a feasibility report of the various components of the scheme relating to Peninsular River development and Himalayan rivers development.
- WAPCOS Limited is a “MINI RATNA-I” Public Sector Enterprise.
- WAPCOS has been providing consultancy services in all facets of water resources, power and infrastructure sectors in India and abroad.
- WAPCOS complies with the Quality Assurance requirements of ISO 9001:2008 for Consultancy Services in Water Resources, Power and -Infrastructure Development Projects.
