Integrated resource and project planning

• Utilization efficiency should be improved by demand management and adopting conservation methods • Promotion of frontier research and development • Optimization of best possible projects for all types of small or big projects keeping in view the existing agreements for a basin/sub –basin and landscapes • Close integration of water-use and land-use policies • Development of river action plans to clean the rivers • Water mapping and zoning of the country and the economic activities should be guided and regulated in accordance with such zoning • Optimal use of water resources necessitates construction of storages and the consequent resettlement and rehabilitation of population • Development of master plan for flood control and management • Development of coastal management plan • Minimise drought-prone areas • Climate change leading to water resource changes has been included in new draft policy (2012)

• • Should be made available to water stress/ short areas by river basin transfer based on a national perspective or non-conventional methods • Sustainable use for a hydrological unit such as drainage basin (whole/ sub-basin), taking into account environmental considerations • Provision for drinking water should be a primary consideration for both humans and animals • Economic development and activities including agricultural, industrial and urban development, should be planned with due regard to the constraints imposed by the configuration of water availability • The project affected persons share the benefits through proper rehabilitation • Facilitation of better flood management • Minimise land erosion by sea or river • Development of mitigation strategies to combat the impacts of for climate change on water resources at all macro and micro levels • Energy and water

• Adoption of technological advances • Integral design of drainage system • Periodical reassessment of the ground water potential considering the quality of the water available and economic viability of its extraction • Evolving economical water use irrigation system • Regulation of ground water exploitation with recharge options ensuring the social equity • Integrated and coordinated development of surface water and ground water resources and their conjunctive use, • Prevent ingress of seawater into sweet water aquifers • Reclamation of water logged / saline affected land by scientific and cost-effective methods • Conservation consciousness should be promoted through education, regulation, incentives and disincentives • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) • Social Impact Assessment (SIA) • Cost Benefit Analysis Inter-basin transfers • Incorporate the benefit to tribal or other specially disadvantaged groups such as socially weak, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes • Involvement and participation of beneficiaries and other stakeholders • States should accordingly evolve their own detailed resettlement and rehabilitation policies for the sector, taking into account the local conditions • Careful planning is necessary to ensure that the construction and rehabilitation activities proceed simultaneously and smoothly • In highly flood prone areas, flood control should be given overriding consideration in reservoir regulation policy even at the cost of sacrificing some irrigation or power benefits • Discouragement of indiscriminate occupation and exploitation of coastal strips of land area and regulation of economically active area adjacent to the sea • Management of drought-prone areas by soil moisture conservation measures, water harvesting practices, minimisation of evaporation losses, etc. • Pastures, forestry or other modes of development which are relatively less water demanding should be encouraged • Research and training for WRM

• Development of huge infrastructure • Stakeholder participation • Financial requirement • Public participation • Water is a free commodity • Uncontrollable and unaccounted sources of pollution • Inefficient sewage treatment plants • Insufficient industrial wastewater treatment • Unsustainable diffuse pollution • High groundwater and surface water pollution • Regulating settlements and economic activity in the flood plain and coastal zones to minimise the loss of life and property • Health integrated approach to water supply and sanitation

• Green revolution and economic growth due to huge infrastructure development in water sector post-independence • Conflicts among scientists, politicians and stakeholder regarding river-linking project and other initiatives • Minimal public participation • High water intensive agriculture an irrigation practices used • Disparities exists in the availability of water between head-reach and tail-end farms and between large and small farms • Minimal participation from sectors incorporating industries, corporate houses, MNCs, etc. • Negligible improvement in water quality even after huge investment sunder River Action Plans • Improvement in flood control measure in certain states like Bihar, etc. However, the urban flooding is towards an increasing trend • Country witness lot of economic activities at flood plain and coastal zone areas • Country lacks consultation and involvement of stakeholders such as medical doctors, health workers, educators, women and social scientists for water and sanitation issues.

[Contributor: Deepshikha Sharma, PhD Scholar, TERI University, New Delhi, India]