Implementation of water resources projects

Water being a state subject, the state governments has primary responsibility for use and control of this resource. The administrative control and responsibility for development of water rests with the various state departments and corporations. Major and medium irrigation is handled by the irrigation / water resources departments. Minor irrigation is looked after partly by water resources department, minor irrigation corporations and zilla parishads / panchayats and by other departments such as agriculture. Urban water supply is generally the responsibility of public health departments and panchayatas take care of rural water supply. Government tube-wells are constructed and managed by the irrigation/water resources department or by the tube-well corporations set up for the purpose. Hydropower is the responsibility of the state electricity boards.

Due to the shared responsibilities, as mentioned above, for the development of water resources projects there have been instances of conflicting interests amongst various state holders.