A major shift in perception of national water policy

jk"Vªh; tyuhfr ds cks/ esa ,d u;k ifjorZu

STUDENT-10
Contributed By: Mr. Prem Kumar
Basic IAS Academy
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A major shift in perception of national water policy
jk"Vªh; tyuhfr ds cks/ esa ,d u;k ifjorZu
The success of the new approach will depend on
political will and an infrastructure to facilitate science-
based watershed management.
1.In the article “Approach to new national water
policy”, its author Ramaswamy R. Iyer (Editorial page,
October 29, 2010) argues eloquently for a departure from
incrementally building on the Ministry of Water Resources’
National Water Policy of 2002 to a holistic approach
starting from scratch. At its core, the new approach
recognises that water availability is finite and variable,
and that economic growth is incompatible with limited
water availability. Painful choices are to be made in
sharing the vital resource under an overarching
philosophy of ecological health and social justice, guided
by Gandhiji’s dharma of balancing rights with
responsibility. In the new approach, mega projects will
play a subordinate role, with water management being
implemented at local levels.
2.Placed in context, Mr. Iyer’s approach signals
an unmistakable shift from a supply-demand mindset to
holistic science-based management. In its mid-term
appraisal report of the XIth Plan, the Planning Commission
recognised, based on persuasive scientific evidence, that
India’s water situation is even more serious than originally
assessed, and concluded that a solution cannot be found
unless “we can come out of the silos into which we have
divided water and take a holistic view of the hydrological
cycle”. In May, the Prime Minister’s Climate Council
presented its Water Mission to the people, suggesting that
water conservation should be a people’s movement in
India, and that all water data be in the public domain to
mobilise citizens, and local and State governments for
dedicated actions on water conservation and
augmentation. The mission also envisions an approved
National Water Policy in place by 2013.
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STUDENT 10
uohu ekxZ dh liQyrk jktuSfrd bPNk vkSj foKku
vk/kfjr ty foHkktu çca/u ds fy, lqfo/k,¡ nsus okys <k¡ps ij
fuHkZj djsxkA
(1) vius ys[k ^,çksp Vw U;w uS'kuy okVj ikfylh* esa
ys[kd jkekLokeh vkjñ vÕ;j (lEikndh; ç"B] vDVwcj 29]
2010) O;k[;kRed rdZ nsrs gSa fd dSls ty lalk/u ea=kky; dh
2002 esa fu/kZfjr jk"Vªh; ty uhfr ls /hjs&/hjs nwj gksdj ,d ubZ
iífr viukus dh t:jr gS tks ubZ 'kq:vkr gksA lq>k, x, u,
ifjorZu ds ewy esa ;g ckr Li"V gS fd ikuh dh miyC/rk
lhfer gS vkSj le;kuqlkj ifjorZu'khy gS vkSj ty miyC/rk dh
deh ds dkj.k vk£Fkd fodkl Hkh vlaxr gSA ty lalk/u ds
c¡Vokjs ds fy, dqN d"Vdkjh fu.kZ; ysus gksaxs tks n'kZu&vk/kfjr
ifjfLFkfrxr LokLF; vkSj lkekftd U;k; ds vUrxZr vkrs gSaA bls
xk¡/hth ds ml /eZ ds :i esa viukuk gksxk ftls os dgrs Fks fd
vf/dkj vkSj mÙkjnkf;Ro esa larqyu gksuk vko';d gSA bl ubZ
n`f"V ds vUrxZr cM+h ifj;kstuk,¡] ty çca/u ds {ks=k esa LFkkuh;
Lrj }kjk dk;kZUo;u ds fy, v/huLFk Hkwfedk fuHkk,axhA
(2) bl lanHkZ esa ns[kk tk, rks Jh vÕ;j dh n`f"V ml ifjorZu
dk ladrs nsrh gS ftlesa vkiw£r&ekax vk/kfjr ekufldrk dks cny dj
U;k;iw.kZ oSKkfud vk/kj ij çca/u t:jh gSA ;kstuk vk;ksx us viuh
X;kjgoha ;kstuk dh eè;dkyhu fjiksVZ es]a tks oSKkfud lk{;ksa ij vk/
kfjr gS] fVIi.kh djrs gq, crk;k fd Hkkjr esa ty leL;k mlls Hkh
T;knk xaHkhj gS ftruh lksph xbZ Fkh vkSj ;g fu.kZ; lq>k;k fd ¶bldk
gy rc rd laHko ugha tc rd fd ge ml lkbdks ls ugha fudyrs
ftlesa geus ty foHkktu fd;k gqvk gS vkSj gkbMªkfs yd lkbdy ij
xaHkhj n`f"V ugha MkyrsA¸ ebZ es]a ç/kuea=kh dh DykbesV dkmafly us
yksxksa ds le{k ^okVj fe'ku* çLrqr fd;k ftlesa lq>ko fn;k gS fd
ty laj{k.k Hkkjr esa tu vkanksyu cuuk pkfg,] rFkk ikuh lac/a h lHkh
fooj.k yksxksa ds le{k gksuk pkfg, rkfd ukxfjdks]a LFkkuh; vkSj jkT;
ljdkjksa dks ty laj{k.k vkSj lnqi;ksx ds fy, çsfjr fd;k tk ldsA
bl fe'ku us ,d jk"Vªh; ty uhfr dks Hkh LohÑfr nh tks 2013 rd
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STUDENT 10

3.Considering that Mr. Iyer is a former Secretary (3) bl ckr dks le>rs gq, fd Jh vÕ;j ty lalk/u
of Water Resources, it is clear that there is a definite ds HkwriwoZ lfpo gSa] ;g Li"V gS fd mPp Lrj ij ç'kklu dh
shift in perception of a national water policy at the highest n`f"V esa jk"Vªh; ty uhfr ds fo"k; esa ,d fuf'pr ifjorZu vk;k
levels of governance. The shift eschews supply-demand
gSA ;g ifjorZu vkiw£r&ekax n'kZu ls gVdj foKku vk/kfjr çca/
philosophy, embracing, instead, science-based
management with people’s participation at various levels
u dks Lohdkjus dks rS;kj gS ftlesa fu.kZ; ysus ds fofHkUu Lrjksa ij
of decision-making. The new vision is radical, and yksxksa dh Hkh Hkkxhnkjh jgsxhA ;g ubZ n`f"V lq/kjoknh gS vr% 2013
introduces extraordinary challenges to get a National ds fy, LohÑr jk"Vªh; tyuhfr ds y{; çkIr djus esa vlk/kj.k
Water Policy approved by 2013. pqukSfr;ksa dk ladsr Hkh nsrh gSA
4.The challenges 11 (4) pqukSfr;ka
5.Perhaps the greatest challenge confronting the (5) laHkor% rks lcls cM+h pqukSrh tks bl n`f"V esa fpark
new approach concerns adaptation to limited water
availability, and wean away from an aspiration for growth.
dk fo"k; gS og ty dh lhfer miyC/rk gS] tks fodkl dh
The concept is deceptively simple, but the political vkdka{kk ds vuqdy w Hkh gSA ;g /kj.kk ns[kus esa lk/kj.k çrhr gksrh
difficulties involved are enormous. Will there be a will to gS fdUrq blds ihNs vuUr jktuSfrd ijs'kkfu;ka fNih gSA D;k ekxZ
find a way out? [kkstus dh dksf'k'k dh bPNk gksxh\
6.The second challenge confronting the new (6) bl laca/ esa nwljh pqukSrh LFkkuh; çca/u ds fo"k;
approach concerns “local management”, which may be
esa gS] D;ksafd vyx&vyx Lrj ds yksx bls vyx&vyx rjhds
understood differently by different people. In the context
of holistic management based on the hydrological cycle, ls le>saxsA gkbMªkWfyd&lkbfdy ij vk/kfjr xaHkhj çca/u ds
local management implies management over watersheds, lanHkZ esa ty foHkktu dk çca/ LFkkuh; çca/u ds ikl gksrk gS
rather than administrative units. In turn, watersheds are u fd ç'kklfud bdkb;ksa dsA ty foHkktu ,d çdkj dk
hierarchical structures, with numerous small ones ijaijkxr <k¡pk gS ftlesa cM+s <k¡psa ds vUrxZr fofHkUu NksVs&NksVs
imbedded in larger ones. In general, a viable watershed <k¡ps fufgr gksrs gSA lkekU; :i esa] ty foHkktu dks çca/u dk
as a unit for management will be a collection of watersheds
whose size, disposition and boundaries will depend on local
,d ,dd ekuk tk,xk] ftlesa ty foHkktu ds vkdkj] lhekvksa
physiographical and geological conditions. The implication vkSj c¡Vokjk LFkkuh; HkkSxksfyd vkSj HkwoSKkfud voLFkkvksa ij
is that local management will entail many communities fuHkZj gksxkA leL;k ;g gS fd LFkkuh; çca/u dks dbZ yksxksa dk
(villages, towns, cities) cooperatively coming together to fofHkUu leqnk;ksa dk (xzke] 'kgj vkSj dLcksa) lg;ksx çkIr djuk
conjunctively share their surface water and groundwater, gksxk vkSj mUgsa bl ckr ds fy, rS;kj djuk gksxk fd os vius {ks=k
drawing upon expertise from scientists and engineers.
ds ty vkSj Hkwty dks vU; yksxksa esa c¡kVus dks rS;kj gksa] blesa
oSKkfudksa vkSj bathfu;lZ dh lgk;rk ysuh gksxhA
7.The California example
(7) dSfyiQks£u;k dk mnkgj.k

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8.As an example of local management, the well
known Silicon Valley of California is instructive. The
citizens of the Valley have assumed ownership of all water
in their watershed, and have been operating a water system
for over seven decades, integrating surface water,
groundwater, artificial recharge, imported water, water
reuse, water treatment, and public education. Comprising
over 15 cities, the Silicon Valley watershed is a collection
of some 23 smaller watersheds, covering an area of about
3,400 sq.km. At the core of this democratically managed
watershed is a competent cadre of scientists, engineers,
and biologists, aided by a well laid out network of monitoring
stations. A democratically elected board makes
management decisions based on input from its technical
staff, portraying an admirable synergism between science
and policy.
9.Against this backdrop, one finds India faced with
an immense task of a transition from an infrastructure of
existing tanks, canals and other water structures, to making
them part of a watershed-based local management
system. This transition has to be achieved through holistic
principles guided by the hydrological cycle. I
10. n sheer scope, this transition will be
unprecedented anywhere in the world, requiring the
imaginative application of hydrological, hydro-geological
and ecological principles. Such an application will have to
be aided by well-designed long-term monitoring systems,
the data from which will form the basis of dynamic
sustainable management.
11. It is obvious that the success of the new
approach, founded on local management, requires for its
success the setting up of a science-engineering
infrastructure, supported by adequate trained personnel
and academic research. Simultaneously, appropriate legal
mechanisms have to be set in place enabling local citizens
to take ownership of water as a necessary prerequisite
for management. It is almost certain that the new venture
will require the creation of new institutions.
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STUDENT 10
(8) LFkkuh; çca/u dh n`f"V ls dSfyiQks£u;k dh flfydkWu
oSyh ,d vkn'kZ mnkgj.k gSA ?kkVh ds ukxfjdksa ds ikl ty
foHkktu dk iw.kZ vf/dkj gS] os fiNys lkr n'kdksa ls ty i¼fr
viuk, gq, gS] ftlesa Hkwfery dk ikuh] Hkwfe ds uhps dk ikuh]
ty dk iqu% 'kq¼hdj.k] vk;kfrr ty] ty dk iqu% ç;ksx] okVj
VªhVesaV vkSj ty f'k{kk tSlh lc ckrksa dk çca/ 'kkfey gSA iUæg
'kgjksa esa flfydkWu oSyh ds yxHkx 23 okVj 'kSM gS tks yxHkx
3]400 oxZ fdyksehVj {ks=k dks tyiw£r djrs gSA bl vn~Hkqr ty
foHkktu çac/u dh tM+ esa l{ke oSKkfud] bathfu;lZ] Hkw&oSKkfud
gSa ftuds ikl fuxjkuh dsaæksa dk cM+k <k¡pk gSA çtkrkaf=kd :i ls
pquk x;k cksMZ çca/ laca/h fu.kZ; ysrk gS] tks rduhdh {ks=k ls
tqM+s LVkWiQ ls çkIr lwpukvksa ij vk/kfjr gksrs gSa] ftlls foKku
vkSj uhfr dk vn~Hkqr lkeatL; ns[kus esa vkrk gSA
(9) bl i`"BHkwfe esa] Hkkjr dks cgqr cM+k dk;Z djuk gksxk
ftlesa orZeku VSadks] ugjksa vkSj vU; ty laca/h <k¡ps dks cnyuk
gksxk rkfd mUgsa ty foHkktu vk/kfjr LFkkuh çca/u i¼fr dk
,d fgLlk cuk;k tk ldsA ;g ifjorZu gkbMªkfW yd lkbdy&1 ds
dBksj vkn'kksZa }kjk funsZf'kr gksaxsA
(10) ;g ifjorZu] iwjs fo'o esa vHkwriwoZ bfrgkl cu
tk,xk ftlesa gkbMªksykWftdy] gkbMªks&thvksykWftdy vkSj
bdkWfyftdy fl¼kUrksa dk dYiuk'khy ç;ksx djuk gksxkA bl
dk;Z dh lgk;rk ds fy, lqn`<+ yEch vof/ dh fufj{k.k i¼fr
gksxh ftlls çkIr lwpuk,a liQy çca/u dks lqpk: :i esa pykus
esa lgk;d fl¼ gksaxhA
(11) ;g Li"V gS fd bl ubZ uhfr dh liQyrk ds fy,]
tks LFkkuh; çca/u ij vk/kfjr gS] lkbal&bathfu;fjax dk <k¡pk
t:jh gS ftlesa i;kZIr :i esa çf'kf{kr vkSj f'kf{kr d£e;ksa dk
gksuk t:jh gSA lkFk&lkFk] oS/kfud fof/ dk fuekZ.k Hkh vko';d
gS ftlls LFkkuh; yksxksa ds ikl vko';d çca/u dh vko';drk
ds fy, ty LokfeRo dk vf/dkj Hkh gksA ;g rks fu'fpr gh gS
fd bl u, ç;ksx ds fy, ubZ laLFkkvksa dh vko';drk gksxhA
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STUDENT 10

12. The emerging holistic perception of a national
water policy based on the hydrological cycle is ambitious
and audacious. Its success will depend on courageous
leadership from the Central Government, and its ability to
persuade a well-informed citizen to rise up to Gandhiji’s
concept of dharma in which rights flow from responsibilities.
13. ( T.N. Narasimhan is an Emeritus Professor in
the Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and
Management, University of California at Berkeley. Email:
tnnarasimhan@LBL.gov)
(12) gkbMªkfyd lkbfdy ij vk/kfjr ubZ mHkjrh gqbZ
jk"Vªh; tyuhfr egRodka{kh vkSj mRlkgo/Zd gSA bldh liQyrk
dsUæ ljdkj ds lkglh usr`Ro ij fuHkZj gS rFkk bldh bl {kerk
ij vk/kfjr gS fd ;g ukxfjdksa dks xka/hth ds /eZ ds fo"k; esa
fdruk çsfjr dj ldsaxs ftlesa vf/dkj ds lkFk mÙkjnkf;Ro Hkh
tqM+k gSA
(13) Vhñ,uñ ujflEgu] cdZys fLFkr dSfyiQks£u;k
fo'ofo|ky; esa fMikVZeVas vkWiQ esVhfj;Yl lkbal vkSj bathfu;fjax
rFkk fMikVZesaV vkWiQ bUok;jesaVy lkabl ds çksiQslj ,ejhV~l gSA

Courtesy : - The Hindu

Disclaimer: This article has been translated exclusively for IAS Aspirants convenience and study purposes.
Author doesn't take responsibility of view expressed or accuracy of the content."

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