National Policy For Water Resources Development

Instructional Objectives

On completion of this lesson, shall be able to:

1. Appreciate the policy envisaged by the nation to develop water resources within the country

2. Conventional and non-conventional methods in planning water resources projects

3. Priorities in terms of allocation of water for various purposes

4. Planning strategies and alternatives that should be considered while developing a particular project

5. Management strategies for excess and deficit water imbalances

6. Guidelines for projects to supply water for drinking and irrigation

7. Participatory approach to water management

8. Importance of monitoring and maintaining water quality of surface and ground water sources.

9. Research and development which areas of water resources engineering need active

10. Agencies responsible for implementing water resources projects in our country

11. Constitutional provision guiding water resource development in the county

12. Agencies responsible for monitoring the water wealth of the country and plan scientific development based on the National Policy on water

Introduction

Water, though commonly occurring in nature, is invaluable! It supports all forms of life in conjunction with air. However, the demand of water for human use has been steadily increasing over the past few decades due to increase in population. In contrast, the total reserve of water cannot increase. Hence each nation, and especially those with rapidly increasing population like India, has to think ahead for future such that there is equitable water for all in the years to come. This is rather difficult to achieve as the water wealth varies widely within a country with vast geographical expanse, like India. Moreover, many rivers originate in India and flow through other nations (Pakistan and Bangladesh) and the demands of water in those counties have to be honored before taking up a project on such a river. Similarly there are rivers which originate form other counties (Nepal, Bhutan and China) and flow through India.

All these constraints have led to the formulation of the national water policy which was drafted in 1987 keeping in mind national perspective on water resource planning, development and management. The policy has been revised in 2002, keeping in mind latest objectives. It is important to know the essentials of the national policy as it has significant bearing on the technology or engineering that would be applied in developing and managing water resources projects.

This section elucidates the broad guidelines laid own in the National Water Policy (2002) which should be kept in mind while planning any water resource project in our country.