A fresh look at water policy
Introduction to the National Water Policy 2020
The Mihir Shah-led Committee submitted the National Water Policy (NWP) draft in 2019, but it has not been made public. Delays in its release prevent India from adopting state-of-the-art approaches to water governance, which are crucial for future challenges and the India Water Vision 2047.
Conflict Between Water Governance Paradigms
India’s water governance is torn between two contrasting paradigms:
- The colonial engineering paradigm focuses on structural interventions like dams and barrages to augment water supply.
- The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) paradigm emphasizes a holistic, socially and ecologically informed approach to water management, using a system-wide perspective.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
- IWRM includes various natural and social sciences, focusing on a systems approach that integrates water, energy, and food. It encourages water demand management over supply augmentation, aligning with global trends.
Global Trends in Water Management
- Several countries have shifted away from large structural interventions.
- EU’s Water Framework Directive (2000) led to the decommissioning of around 500 dams to restore natural hydrological flows.
- The US decommissioned over 1,000 dams to rejuvenate basin ecosystems.
- Market-based approaches to water governance in Chile and Australia have been implemented to enhance water productivity.
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India’s Resistance to the Global Shift
- Indian water technocracy has largely resisted these global reforms, continuing to follow the colonial engineering paradigm. However, some initiatives, like the Draft National Water Framework Bill 2016 and Model Bill for Groundwater Management 2016, indicate a shift toward comprehensive governance.
Challenges with India’s Traditional Water Policies
- India''s reliance on structural interventions has caused ecological and social issues:
- Cauvery river disputes
- Flooding in Bihar due to the Farakka Barrage
- Unsustainable hydropower projects in the Himalayas
- Concerns over river interlinking projects.
Key Recommendations for a New Water Governance Paradigm
- Eco-Hydrological Approach: Water should be treated as a dynamic element within the eco-hydrological cycle, not just a resource for human use.
- Valuation of Water’s Intrinsic and Ecological Value: Recognize the economic and ecological functions of water.
- River Basin as the Governance Unit: Watershed-level governance is vital for water management.
- Demand Management Over Supply Augmentation: Shifting focus to water-saving methods rather than increasing supply for economic growth.
- Interdisciplinary Knowledge Base: Water management should involve engineering, natural and social sciences, and decision sciences.
- Droughts and Floods as Natural Events: These are part of the hydrological cycle, not extreme events to be feared.
- Gender Considerations: Women’s central role in water management must be recognized, as emphasized by the Dublin Statement.
Conclusion
- The draft National Water Policy must be debated and revised with further knowledge to address India''s growing water security challenges. Delaying its release puts India at risk of not meeting its water needs for both human and environmental security.
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