NATIONAL WATER POLICY

TERI School of Advanced Studies

22 November 2023

Dr Lakshmi Raghupathy
Visiting Faculty TERI-SAS; Former Director, MoEF&CC;
Adviser/Consultant Environment & Waste Management
 National Water Policy

INTRODUCTION
• It is formulated by the ministry of water resources to govern
the planning and development of water resources.
• The first national policy was adopted in September 1987 and
updated in 2002 and 2012 respectively
 National Water Policy

1. Salient Features of National Water Policy

• To establish a standard national information
system
• To provide maximum availability by resource
planning and recycling
• To provide guidelines for the safety of storage
dams
• Regulate the expliotation of groundwater.
• To give importance on human settlement and
environment.
 National Water Policy

2. Enhancing Water Available for Use

• Rainfall need to be used directly.
• Aquifier need to be mapped to know quality of
ground resources.
• Inter basin transfers need to be encouraged.
• Watershed development activities need to be
undertakento increse soil moisture and water
productivity
 National Water Policy

3. Water pricing
• Water regulatory authority should be
established in each state.
• Water charges should be determined in a
volumetric manner.
• Recycle and reuse of water should be
encouraged.
• WUA should be given powers to collect water
charges.
 National Water Policy

4. Project planning and implementation

• All clearances required for the project should
be made in time.
• Avoid time and cost over runs.
• Local governing bodies such as panchayats,
municipalities etc., should be involved in the
planning of projects.
 National Water Policy

5. Managementof flood and drought

• Land,soil,energy management with scientific
reserch should be used to evolve different
agricultural strategies.
• Revetments,embankments etc., should be
constructed to prevent soil erosion.
• Operating procedures should be evolved and
implemented.
 National Water Policy

6. Transboundary rivers
• Efforts should be made to enter international
aggrements with neighbouring countries for
exchanging hydrological data of rivers.
 National Water Policy

7. Research and training needs

• Grants should be given to states to update
technology, design and planning
• An autonomous centre for research on water
policy should be established.
• Regular training and academic courses in
water management should be promoted.
• A national campaign for water literacy need to
be started.
 National Water Policy

8. Implementationof national water policy.

• National water board should prepare a plan
based on national water policy as approved by
the national water resources council. • State
water policies need to be drafted in accordance
with this policy.
 THANK YOU

Dr Lakshmi Raghupathy
9818967335
Lakshmi.raghupathy23@gmail.com

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