Report on

Regional Workshops on Water Policy

Uttaranchal, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

February - March 2003

Prepared by -K. Abraham Dennyson - Joswant Kr. Hial

Organised by

308, Mahatta Tower, B-Block, Community Centre, Janakpuri, New Delhi -110 058 Tele-Fax 25516383 / 4 / 5 www.eficor.org

Page 1

Index

Page 1. Introduction 2. Preamble to Workshops 3. Course Module 4. Uttaranchal 5. Maharashtra 6. Orissa 7. Andhra Pradesh 8. Tamil Nadu 9. Kerala 10. Major Recommendations 11. Major Action Plan Adopted 12. Conclusion 2 4 6 7 9 12 14 16 18 20 23 24

Page 2

No single measure would do more to reduce disease and save lives in the developing world than bringing safe water and adequate sanitation to all. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Millennium Report

Introduction
Millennium Development Goal: we resolve further to halve [by 2015] the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking waterand to The evaluation report of the United Nations on stop the unsustainable Global Water Resources shows that India ranked exploitation of water a poor 120th for its water quality. India also ranks resources by developing management 133rd among 180 countries for its poor water water availability which is 1880 cum per person strategies to promote annually. According to long-range UN both equitable access population projections2, India's population could, move into water stress condition by 2007. Under high projection which is 2.58 children per woman, the country would move into conditions of water scarcity by 2025. These harsh realities of water had driven EFICOR to take up the cause of water advocacy. EFICOR is involved in the field of water for more than twenty five years now, from providing drinking water to soil and water conservation measures. As water becomes scarcer it will be poor and marginalised who will be left behind. Before late efforts need to be taken to make the voice of the common man heard. The series of workshop that EFICOR conducted across the country was in this direction; to initiate a public discussion. The bible says Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, (Isa. 10: 1-2). Learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isa.: 1:17) As a faith based agency EFICOR draws its motivation from the bible to take up cause of standing with the poor and pleading for them. In recognition of the central importance of water resources to the planets future, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 03 as the International Year of Freshwater. India also has declared 03 as Year of the Freshwater in keeping with the United Nations. The Tenth Five Year Plan aims to provide safe drinking water for all by 2007.1

1 2

GOI Tenth Five Year Plan http://www.cnie.org/pop/pai/

Page 3

This report contains major issues, recommendations and action plans that came up during discussion in the regional workshops on water policy held in
Uttaranchal Maharashtra Orissa Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu Kerala: Christian Mission Hospital, Chamba 17 & 18 Feb. 03

Community Development Society, Nagpur 21 & 22 Feb. 03 XIMB, Bhubaneshwar Wood Bridge Hotel, Hydrabad Denobili Retreat Centre, Madurai Hotel Elite International, Thrisshur 27 & 28 Feb. 03 04 & 05 Mar. 03 12 & 13 Mar. 03 18 & 19 Mar. 03

Page 4

Preamble to Workshop
EFICOR had organised a conference in Hamdard University Convention Hall, New Delhi during 11- 13 February, 2002 to deliberate on Water in the new millennium: Challenges and Responses. The conference delegates came up with the following recommendations3. 1. 2. Asserting Water as an Inalienable Right. Promoting People Based Governance i. ii. iii. 3. 4. 5. 6. Water usage issues Decentralization of power Finance

Combating Corruption and Promoting Co-operatives. Building Capacities for Mobilising Communities. Rallying Support of Civil Society. Pressing for People-Centred National Water Policies.

There was a series of workshops planned to follow up the above recommendations. By then the revised National Policy was not released. The National Water Policy was released in April 2002. This opportunity was made use of to raise the concerns in National Water policy and thus recommend towards the State Water Policy. The Policy's salient features are:

Safe drinking water facilities as topmost priority. Prioritizing water use allocation as: Drinking water; Irrigation; Hydropower; Ecology; Agroindustries/non-agricultural industries; Navigation and other uses. Participation of beneficiaries and other stakeholders in project planning and its management. Conserving water in the catchment area. Adoption polluter pays principle in management of polluted water. Minimum flow in the perennial streams for maintaining ecology and river regime system.

The concerns that arise out of this policy are:

Planning, development and management of water resources in cities with priority compared to rural area with so called national perspective. In step to improve efficiency and optimal productivity per unit of water the approach to see water as commodity.

Recommendations for Action -EFICOR

Page 5

In effort to maximise the extent of utilisable water resources in the country the traditional methods of water resource management is missed out. Private sector participation in order to generate capital and introduce corporate management which will in turn leave behind the poor and marginalised. On the one hand having spoken about participatory approach, the policy seems to have a highly centralised macro-management and centralized approach to handling water resources. And a time bound action plan is missing.

Water Policy deliberations should include civil society, and all government structures of the village upwards. Public discussions on National Water Policy 2002, is a must before it is implemented. The series of workshop on water policy across the country in six states was an effort to address any dissonance between peoples' voice and government policies.

Page 6

Course Module
Following is the course module that was followed during different workshops. Experts, grass root functionaries and government officials were among the wide range of people who addressed during the workshop.

Inaugural Day

Final Day

Session I Session IV Background to workshop Regional Water Issues National Water Policy 2002 Implications of NWP in the State issues Arising

Session II Session V People Oriented Water Resource Group Work Management Group Findings Reporting Alternative techniques in Water Resource Management Session III Panel Discussion Participants, Water Experiences Session VI Evolving Recommendations towards State Water Policy with reference to National Water Policy Evolving Future Action Plan

Page 7

Utttaranchal
Workshop at Chamba, Uttaranchal was the first of the series of workshops to be conducted across six states. Chamba is situated in a hilly terrain. It was encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the delegates, who had taken longer routes because of road blocks due to snowing. There were thirty participants in all representing six districts and twenty two agencies. There were five representatives from the government. The presence of officials from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) made much difference to the discussions with their valuable inputs. Regional Highlights Proceedings: i. SHGs as Alternative Credit Delivery System for ProPoor Financing, Dr. D.S.Chauhan, AGM (DD), NABARD. IRDP and Cooperatives which promised revolutionary results in rural development in the country, failed. SHGs should be used as a tool for implementing pro-poor welfare projects. ii. Insuring Water Resource through Community Governance, K.N.Vajpai, Consultant, Swajal Project, Uttarkashi. Water supply schemes should be demand driven rather than supply driven to be successful. Various Village Water and Sanitation Committees which had insured their infrastructures under National Insurance Company Ltd. had their damages reimbursed caused by flash flood and land slide. iii. An Overview of the National Water Policy 2002 and Water Issues Facing Uttaranchal, Mr. K.A.Dennyson, Coordinator, EFICOR. Ganges is troubled waters now because of deforestation, diversion and receding glaciers. Doon valley is unprepared as to water requirements the way development is going on. Tehri Dam cost benefit analysis shows construction cost is twice the projected benefits. iv. Community based User Managed System Can Be Scaled Up and Produce Sustainable Results, Dr.Naveen Anand, Faculty, Institute of Cooperative Management, Mussorie. Indirect intervention of government, which is group / self help approach, is the new scenario. Self sustaining model for water resource management should include User groups, Federations (of such groups), NGOs, government and NGDOs / UN. v. Building Capacities for Mobilising Communities, Dr. Rajesh Singh, Chief Functionary, Gahrwal Community Development and Welfare Society, Chamba. Community Based Organisation should play a balancing role between these two theories: the normative(self-sacrifice) and Rational(self-interest) The self-dominated behaviour

Page 8

Key issues: In Uttaranchal 66% of land area is under reserve forest, accesses to water resources in such areas are restricted. Underground recharge by way of water harvesting is not possible because of its hilly terrain. The risks of landslides and damage to water and water storage system are very high. Recommendations: Himalayan Consortium: A Himalayan consortium should be created comprising of all state representatives who are beneficiaries of rivers flowing from Himalayan Range. This consortium should pool in resources to develop and conserve the catchment area. Insuring the Water Supply System: It should be possible to insure the water supply infrastructure in order to tide over any damage caused by natural disasters. Underground Water Lineaments: Underground water lineaments need to be identified with the help of satellites / GIS to harness the subsurface water which is otherwise not available. Water Allocation Priorities: Micro Hydel Projects must be given allocation priorities immediately after irrigation. Water allocation priorities should be as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Drinking Water Irrigation Micro Hydel Projects Ecology Industries etc.

Action Plan Dialogue with government offices and find out the status of State Water Policy in the new state of Uttaranchal.

Page 9

Maharashtra
Government officials who participated in the two day workshop from Social Forestry were cynical about the forum discussing policy. But the forum was clear that policy is for public, so public should be called into discussion on the matter. There were thirty five participants in all representing twenty six agencies, mostly from eastern districts of Maharashtra. There were four representatives from the government. The absence of overall representation from other parts of the state was felt. Regional Highlights Proceedings i. Integrated Wasteland Development, Mr. S.U.Hiwalkar, Deputy Director, Social Forestry, Nagpur. Watershed Area Development Team, Watershed Area Development Associations and Watershed Committees and Watershed Area Development Secretary and Volunteers are part of the IWDP. The watershed committees execute micro-watersheds. ii. Water Harvesting in Rural Areas, A.K.Niswade, Joint Director, Agriculture Dept., Nagpur. Water conservation is based on the principle of Obstruction and Water Percolation. Extraction of water should be less than the total percolated water. iii. Women and Water, Dr. Mrs. Anuradha Gadkari, Scientist and ExSenior Assistant Director, NEERI, Nagpur. The utilizable water is much less because 85-90% of the river flow occurs during monsoons. The poor status of water is reflected in mother and child health manifesting into infant mortality. iv. Water Issues Facing Maharashtra, Mr. K.A.Dennyson, Coordinator, EFICOR. Rural: 62% of villages have no safe drinking water. Urban: Mumbai has shortage of 900mld (23% of demand). Irrigation: Only 1215% of the total 308 lac. ha. area is under irrigated land. v. Motivation to NGO and Social Forestry Activities, Mr.P. C. S. Singh, Ex- Commissioner and Deputy Director, Social Forestry, Nagpur. NGOs get involved in social forestry by way of promoting cultivation of Pulse tree, Cloned seeds, High-tech Nursery, Medicinal Plants and creating awareness among village people on conservation of natural resources. vi. Microbiological Water Quality, Dr. S. V. Waghmare, Senior Asst. Director, NEERI, Nagpur. Reuse and recycle of water is important element in water management. Local communities can be trained to test / monitor water quality.

Page 10

Key issues: Despite having spent about Rs 17,000 crore over the last 42 years on water projects, about 62% of the villages in Maharashtra have no access to safe drinking water4. 70% of the states geographic area is semi-arid region and are rain dependent. Regular crop failure had forced people to migrate in search of income. Forest cover in Maharashtra has gone down to 15%5 against stipulated standard of 33% of the total geographical area. Recommendations: People Governance: Panchayat Raj Institutions should be empowered to control pollution and regulate groundwater extractions. They should be empowered to levy chares for water and take actions against violators. Tree Cover: Tree cover should be increased with priority instead of mega structures with regard to water resource management. Water Allocation Priorities: Given the investment and infrastructure involved in drinking water treatment, water allocation priorities should be different for Rural and Urban viz.: o Rural 1. Drinking Water 2. Irrigation etc. o Urban 1. Drinking Water 2. Water for Domestic Use 3. Irrigation etc. Action Plan Translate these recommendations, in local language, and make it available to the people of Maharashtra. Yashadha (Dr. Bharat Bhushan), Baner Road, Pune can be consulted.

4 5

http://www.blonnet.com/bline/2002/08/26/stories/2002082600921300.htm http://envfor.nic.in/fsi/sfr97/A3.HTML#_Hlk439754779

Page 11

Orissa
The workshop was at XIMB, a modernized serene campus. The think tanks from one of Indias leading management institute took active role in participating in the workshop. It was encouraging to see the stand they took with the poor and marginalised. Thirty five delegates participated in the workshop representing eighteen organisations. Two government officials were among the participants. Regional Highlights i. National Water Grid and its Implications for Orissa, Dr.B.P. Das, Former Adviser to Cauvery Tribunal, Bhubaneshwar. Inter-basin transfer can only be considered feasible at national level only if interbasin transfer cannot meet the food provide protection from flood. Considering the enormous inputs and fraught with adverse environmental impact an opinion on the National Water Grid is not an immediate possibility. ii. Legal Issues Relating to Water Management in Orissa, Dr. I.C. Mohapatra, Former V.C., OUAT, Bhubaneswar. Local disputes relating to land acquisition, compensation, compensatory afforestaion policy, water sharing, head-reach, tail-reach problems need to be addressed urgently. iii. Water Harvesting Systems in Orissa, Dr.K.M. Parida, Faculty, Water and Land Management Institute, Bhubaneshwar. Orissa has a rich traditional water harvesting system. Micro-level innovations must be encouraged Water Management: Community Perspective and Policy Issues, Dr.M.K.Nath, Xavier Institute of Development Action Studies (XIDAS). Water is to be treated as integral part of nature having its own code of conduct rather than as a resource to be used for meeting increasing needs of human beings. Planning, development and management of water resources needs to be governed by people oriented and eco-friendly perspectives. Local Bodies and Water Management: Sectoral Reform for Participatory Water Management, Shri.Soraj Nayak, CENDERET, XIMB. Although local body management does not solve all problems comprehensively, involvement of people group in management of such precious resource is the need of the hour. The role of government should be of facilitator and enabler. Pani Panchayat: Case Studies, Dr. A. B. Patnaik, Bhubaneshwar. Since sixties the dependency on the government agencies, lower rates of water taxing and development of high yielding varieties of crops has resulted in anarchy of managing water courses. The lack of sustained need or benefit for all users is the primary cause of failure of government sponsored Water Users Associations (WUA). For WUAs to

iv.

v.

vi.

Page 12

vii.

be successful it should formed out felt need and have a benevolent leadership. Privatisation of Water, Dr. S. Pepin, Assistant Professor, XIMB. Ownership need to be look at three levels-State, collective and individual. We may promote selective privatization as long as the poor are not affected. Community must have a clear role to monitor the activities of private parties. Water and Peoples Right: Few Emerging Issues, Shri. Bipin Das, Coordinator, CENDERET, XIMB. Peoples right to water also needs to be understood in the context of irrigated conditions and rain-fed conditions. There is a need to create water right regime.

viii.

Key issues: Flood which used occur once in every four year, during 1834 -1926 has increased to once in two year, during 1926 - 2001. During last 100 years, Orissa had suffered 90 disasters (49 floods; 30 droughts; 11 cyclones)6. The much hyped Pani Panchayats failed, because the farmers do not participate in decision-making. Nor can they participate, because big farmers have feared to have hijacked the scheme. Recommendations: Water Users Association: The reason the Pani-Panchayats (WUA) has failed is the government still controls water regulation and the irrigation department dominates virtually in every area of decision making. Sharing responsibility alone with them is not enough. They should be empowered constitutionally; it should be authority with responsibility. Mahanadi-Godavari Link: The cost and consequences of linking Mahanadi in Orissa and Godavari in Andhra Pradesh will be colossal. Micro level projects like water harvesting, full development of intrabasin resources and efficient utilisation of resources should be emphasised instead. Revision of Policy: Water policy both State and National should be revised and updated regularly taking into consideration the ever changing / evolving situation. Privatisation: Water services should not be privatised in rural and water scarce region. Privatisation under social / community surveillance, in small scale can be allowed when there is no other alternative available.

Use of Vulnerability Indices for Agriculture, S. Selvarajan et al, ICAR

Page 13

Action Plan The Orissa State Water Policy should be studied and specific mandates on it should be worked out with the help of a task force. Conduct one day workshop during April, 2003 on SWP; Centre for Development Research and Training, XIMB shall organize it. Four Regional workshops shall be conducted at every Rural Research Centre by July 2003.

Page 14

Andhra Pradesh
The disparity between government institutions was very vivid with respect to water resource management. The piecemeal approach to the policymaking was highlighted during the workshop. Hydrabad was a strategic place; there was good local media coverage on this workshop. There was representation of people from throughout the state. Fifty four delegates participated from forty two agencies. There were seven government officials who took active participation in the workshop. Regional Highlights: Proceedings: i. Present Scenario of the Ground Water and Govt. Policy, Mr.Veerana, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, Hyderabad. Conjunctive use of both ground and surface water is essential for tiding over water crisis. The Water Policy is wanting in its integrated approach. There needs to be a mechanism to coordinate different instutions related to Water Resource Management. Effective Management of Water Resources, Mr. V. S. Evans, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, Guntur. The policy forms the basis for future laws and statutes. Though the term participatory is often used, the government stills controls the water regulation and department dominates virtually every area of decision making. Pressing for people Centred Policy, Prof. P. Anand Raj, Associate Professsor, REC, Warangal. The institutional and communicational bottlenecks need to be addressed in achieving a people centred water policy. Highlights on AP Water Policy and Water Vision 2020, Mr.Padmanabhan Reddy, Team Coordinator, Loksatha, Hyderabad. The shared water Vision of the people and government is to have clean and secure drinking water supplies for all people in 2020. The strategis framework for action are: State level policy decisions, Strengthening district level water resource planning, Capacity building, Improved legal frameworks, Institutional restructuring, and Creating opportunities for people participation Deteriorating Groundwater Because of Commercial Brine Shrimp Farming in Agricultural Farmlands, Mr. T. N. Murthy, World Vision of India, Nellore. Agricultural lands are fast converting into such commercial shrimp ponds. As a result saline water ingress the fresh ground water aquifers. This is hazardous to the land where land is rendered saline and unproductive.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

Page 15

Key issues: The Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Tree Act, 2002 which was notified to promote conservation of water source could not take off because of its unrealistic imposition of restrictions. The government of Andhra Pradesh prepared Water Vision assisted by Netherlands government. AFPRO was involved in facilitating the discussion with important stakeholders at each district level, on this document during 2002. Unsustainable extraction of groundwater is a cause of concern groundwater level has gone down sharply in many areas. Recommendations: Integrated Policymaking: Policymaking should be integrated in nature; all related sectors like Agriculture, Irrigation, Forestry, Mining etc. should be taken into consideration while working out the water policy. A mechanism should be evolved to coordinate all related institutions, departments and committees at all levels. Women Sensitive: Water policy should be women sensitive. Women should be involved in planning and decision-making process of water resource management. There should be at least 33% representation of women in the decision making forum in regard. Protection of Tanks: A protection cell comprising the community / Panchayat Raj Institutions should be created in order to conserve and protect the traditional water harvesting structures from misuse and destruction. Action Plan Facilitate a public hearing on the issue of National Water Policy. Submit the recommendation to the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Page 16

Tamil Nadu
The significance of this workshop was that it was that participants were primarily from Christian agencies. Fifty three delegates participated representing forty six agencies. There were two representatives from the government offices. Regional Highlights Proceedings: i. National Water Policy- Issues Dr. Jebaraj, Dierctor, National Pulse Research Centre, Pudukottai. It is predicted that the demand of water will be doubled in another twenty years. Comprehensive control and management of rainwater, surface water, ground water and soil water would be needed for increasing water availability and agricultural production. ii. Peoples Participation in Watershed Management, Mrs. Gnana Deepa, Rural Sociologist, DANIDA, Tirnelveli. Watershed development provides an opportunity for optimum utilisation of land and water resources and increasing the crop yield by over two folds. Sustainable development stresses that the development must be participatory. It must involve local people in decision making process. iii. Advanced Irrigation Techniques, Mr. Parthiban, National Pulse Research Centre. By adopting drip method, the yield of vegetables, banana, and orchard crops have been increased enormously. The water saving methods has to be followed in the dry and irrigated lands for the better management of the water. iv. Irrigation Water Management in the Future, Mr. K. Murugesan, Chief Engineer (Retd.), Agri. Engineering Dept. Salem. By way of interlinking rivers water can made available to the water drought prone areas. Land and Water are fixed resources, it cannot be increased, but we can increase the food production by increasing the productivity of the resources. v. Water Scenario in Tamil Nadu, Mr. K.A.Dennyson, Coordinator, EFICOR. Privatisation of Tirupur Water and Sewerage Project: Privatisation
will mean higher prices for poor who have to use less or go without. Interstate issues like Cauvery Bavani: Can water harvesting and reviving traditional tank an answer to the crisis? Under Comprehensive Wasteland Programme thousands of acres is given away to Private companies: How can the community ownership of water resource be realised?

Key issues: All districts except Chennai was declared drought hit, as many as 28 districts7 facing adverse drought conditions. 17.34 lakh hectares8 of
7 8

http://www.rediff.com/news/03/jan/23tn.htm http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/08/21/stories/2002082104491300.htm

Page 17

crop are affected as a result. The drought, said to be the worst in 70 years9. The Tamil Nadu government's wasteland development programme10, which will pave the way for the entry of corporate giants into the State's agricultural sector, is likely to deprive people of their access to precious natural resource like water. No sign of end to the century old Cauvery dispute. Any resolution to end the crisis will have to wait until the politicking surrounding the water disputes in the four states is brought to an end. Recommendations: Civil Societys Role: The community should be trained and empowered to ensure their involvement in all areas of planning and execution of water related projects. NGOs should be involved in the process of empowering and building the communities. Organic Farming: Promote sustainable agricultural practices by way of organic farming. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are the key factor in deteriorating the water quality both subsurface and surface water. Subsurface water, when the chemicals ingress the subsurface and the surface water, when the chemical is washed away with run off. Action Plan An organization should take up model villages with respect to community based water resource management. Small pilot-study projects with respect water resources may be entrusted to NGOs in each district. Start a prayer fellowship with like minded people to pray for the water related concerns.

10

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2004/stories/030228003104700.htm http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2005/stories/20030314001205300.htm

Page 18

Kerala
The workshop took off on the day of state-wide closure on account of tribal land issue. Few government officials conveyed their inability to participate on this account. Government officials of Indian Administrative Service cadre strongly advocated for privatisation, quoting Privatisation is the only scalable
solution because profit motive works; there has to be breakeven between cost and income.

Fifty five delegates participated representing forty seven agencies. There were eight government officials who participated in the workshop. Regional Highlights Proceedings: i. National Water Policy-Myths and Realities, Mr.Biju Kumar, Lecturer in Dept. of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam. There is little emphasis on completing the existing projects and maintaining it. The efforts are for more for new mega projects. There are no successful precedents to interlinking of rivers. ii. Dr.D.Muraleedharan, Scientist-NGRI, Hyderabad. Reliable information / data regarding water resources are not available. Optimal water harvesting (how much water has to be harnesses) have to be defined as every activity in the micro level affects the basin as such. The concerns with water harvesting are storage systems. iii. Water Management Alternatives- a perspective, Dr. Joy Matthew, Associate Professor, Kerala University of Agriculture. Alternatives available are-Rain water harvesting, Regulating water use, Conservation, Increasing storage capacities, Recycling and reuse. iv. Rainwater Conservation for Ground Water Recharge Need of the Day, Mr. Babu Matthew, Training Division, Central Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM). The in situ conservation and harvesting of runoff water will help to mitigate drought and moderate floods. Soil is the largest reservoir of water. Soil and water conservation measures are two sides of same coin. Implement developmental activities on watershed basis through peoples participation. v. Micro WatershedThe Better Alternative, Dr. Latha Unnikrishnen,, Chalakudy Puzha Samrakshana Samithi. There are various reasons for water crisis. Micro watershed has to be understood in terms of: Understanding water utilisation, Short term activities and Long term activities. vi. Water PolicyAn Analysis, Dr. B. Ashok IAS, KWRSA. Water resources are not state created and so no state can ensure water security and so what a state can not offer is no right. Privatisation is the only scalable solution because profit motive works; there is break even between cost and income. The state should play the role of

Page 19

regulator; it cannot play both implementer and regulator. The objective of pricing of water should be efficient, should recover cost and be equitable. The concerns of subsidies are subsidised water gives larger subsidies to wealthier household, because higher income produces higher consumption. Key issues: Kerala Water Quality is one of the worst in India water quality statistics. It ranks next after Lakshadweep(11.9%) and Mizoram(16.21%) from the bottom at only 18.89%11 have access to clean drinking water. 85% of the surface water 12flow takes place during the monsoon season which is vital for the continual flushing out of high salinity levels which occur as a result of Keralas coastal position. Frequent droughts 1982/3, 1986, 1988, saline intrusion and increasing demand which abstracts 3300m out of a total estimated 3500m annual recharge has added to the crisis.
3 3

Recommendations: Inter-State Disputes: Water should continue to a State matter. A monitoring body with surveillance facility comprising the concerned parties should be set up to regulate usage and sharing of water in the basin. Cross Subsidy: Drinking water can be cross subsidised by the government so as to keep the drinking water free and affordable to the poor. Action Plan Work out a media strategy for wider reception. Publish a news letter and distribute it at grass root/ district / state level to workers involved in water activities.

11

Source: Anon 1993, Housing and Amenities: A database on housing and Amenities for Districts, cities and Towns, Occasional Paper No. 5 of 1994, Demography, Census of India. Pp 67-69 12 http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kis/schools/hums/geog/water/occasionalpapers/acrobatfiles/occ26.pdf

Page 20

Major Recommendations
Water as Human Right Water is fundamental for life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a pre-requisite to the realization of all other human rights. The UN has declared water a human right. The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, affordable water, accessible water for personal and domestic uses. Policy Initiative: The government of India should recognise drinking water a human right and adopt necessary policies to make this right to water a reality. The government should take up the responsibility for ensuring equitable access to water. Water Pricing: Water infrastructure and services should be pro-poor. A basic minimum need for drinking and domestic water use should be made available for free. Other water use needs to be taxed on the basis of usage quantity and affordability. Accessibility: The national cost of fetching water in 150 million women days each year causing a national loss of Rs.10 billion per year13. The water supply systems should be targeted to meet the needs of the women and the poor. Peoples Governance People Participation in local governance is vital. The water management presents local problems, local opportunities, and requires localised solutions and so it needs involvement of local government. Special attention is needed to improve the participation of the poor, who are often excluded in decision making. Peoples Ownership: The community ownership of water resources should be recognised. Water Users Associations should be constitutionally empowered to manage water resources. Capacity Building: Empower communities to ensure their involvement in all areas planning and execution in water related projects. Communities and the local institutions they represent need to be given a thorough technical, managerial, social and financial capacity enhancement to ensure that system benefits are optimized. Water Education: Water Education should be included in the curriculum at school level. A more progressive generation has often meant that sustainable practices of yesteryears have been abandoned. Knowledge of the gravity of water crisis coupled with enlightenment on
13

Jal Swaraj Abiyan Navdanya, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

Page 21

practices to alleviate the crisis may yet be the only hope to avert an impending disaster Gender Issue: Women are directly related to the accessibility of water and the policy need to be gender-sensitive. Empower women to take up leadership and managerial roles in water resource policies and management. There should be at least 33% representation of women in the decision making forum of water resource related projects. Social Auditing: In order to promote transparency, comprehensive evaluations of water resource projects and operations by independent auditors based primarily on social and environmental factors should be made possible. Information System: An exhaustive water resource mapping should be done from Village / Block level upwards with reference to water availability and water use patterns and made available for the public. Such mapping should be participatory in nature involving local community. Privatisation It was agreed upon that the public system had failed to deliver. The government can not do both the roles of player and regulator or offender and policing. There has to an alternative that has to be in place: Peoples Governance / public-public partnership should prove as an alternative. The consequence of water resource privatisation will be that the poor will be left to thirst and natural resources will remain squandered and exploited. Common Good: Water is a common endowment from God and cannot be made private good. Water resources should be owned and managed by local communities. If water is reduced to a commodity with a price tag, access to fundamental need by those who cannot pay is threatened. Cooperatives: Cooperatives should be encouraged to plan, implement and manage water infrastructures. Peoples Perspective: Water resource management need to be in peoples perspective rather than industrialisation perspective. There need to be a balance between the human values and the water conservation on technological advances. Large projects need to be looked at with small rural communities in mind rather than designed to serve the interest of the urban community. National Water Grid This gains significance with the Government of India to constituting a task force to link all major rivers by 2016.

Page 22

Canal Network: India has one of the largest networks of canals. Most of the irrigation systems are performing at very low levels of water use efficiency of about 35%14. Every effort should be made to strengthen the existing infrastructure than going for new mega project. Traditional Water Systems: Systematic efforts are needed to revive and learn from traditional and indigenous technologies. These innovative and environmentally friendly technologies need to be strengthened. They prove to be strategic alternative to the multi-million projects. Inter-Basin Transfer: Inter-basin transfer should be considered only after efficiency of intra-basin and micro level management is maximized. Micro watershed should be preferred to macro watershed approach. Thus social displacement, trees cover damage, and livelihood problems can be minimized. Displacement and Rehabilitation: People / Panchayat Raj Institutions affected by projects should participate in decision-making. There should be no forced eviction. Compensatory Measures: All effort should be made to preserve and enhance local / micro / sub eco-system. The environmental impact analysis should take into consideration such eco-system. There could be no compensatory measure in place for damaging an eco-system. Cutting a 100 year tree and planting few saplings would not solve the problem.

14

Participatory Approach in Water Resources Management Seminar Paper by Mr.V.S.Evans

Page 23

Major Action Plan Adopted

Recommendations: Publish the outcomes and recommendations of the workshops and make it available to the participants and the public. Task Force: A core group shall be formed at the state level to take up this cause. This core group shall take the responsibility of networking, awareness and follow up programmes. Networking: Start a network of agencies working in the area of water at every region to advocate the issue of water and follow up the recommendations. Follow up Programmes: Follow up programmes shall be organised at different regional level (district / mandal) involving different stake holders Farmers Associations, Panchyat Raj Institutions, and NGOs. A state / national level programme shall be organised for legislatures, bureaucrats / Policymakers to motivate them for a pro-poor policymaking. Awareness Programmes: Organize mass awareness campaigns on water conservation, safe drinking water and appropriate technology for optimal water usage. Create awareness regarding risks of privatization among the communities Sensitise peer, colleagues and leaders by way of sharing the concerns with them on the issue. Publish news letters, education materials on water and related issues and research finding on decentralisation in order to create awareness. Media Strategy: Workout a media strategy to so as to win their attention on the issue and for wider reception.

Page 24

Conclusion
India is poor because Rural India is poor and Rural India is poor because the farmer living in rural India is poor, said Mahatma Gandhi. Late Dr. Manibhai Desai further added The farmer is poor because his resources are not managed and utilized properly. Given the situation of water resources in India, one would ask some basic questions: Why Take Water from Poor? Dams are being built upon all major rivers to divert water to non-sustainable cities. The Tehri Dam, which displaced thousands of villagers and potential threat to the eco-system, is among the 10 dams15 to be built upon Ganga to provide water to Delhi. Unregulated industrialisation is a cause of concern. While rivers are privatised to supply water to the industries; it is the poor who are left thirsting. The growing urban slums are the evidences that the villages can no longer sustain their livelihood. This leaves both the urban and rural situation unsustainable. Why Development is always related to Mega Structures? US on the spree of dam deconstructions over 50016 dams nationwide were deconstructed during 2001-2002, many due to dam safety risks and environmental impact. The multi million project of the government of India to link all major rivers would include hundreds of dams, extensive network of canals and lakhs dislocated. This would prove nothing but to divert people to divert from grave reality by selling a dream. A sustainable rural India should produce a sustainable India and nothing less. Why is Privatisation an Answer to the Inefficiency of the Public Sector? Corruption was attributed to the inefficiency of the Public Sector. However there are evidences of corruption in public-private partnership. People should be given a chance in managing their water resources. The process of decentralisation is irreversible. The transfer of power translates into increased powers for decision making and monitoring the implementations of such decisions, to the communities and participation of local stakeholders like NGOs and CBOs. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his speech during Fifth Meeting of the National Water Resources Council New Delhi - April 1, 2002, said The policy should also recognize that the community is the rightful custodians of water. Both the Centre and the State governments should, therefore, actively seek the involvement of the community at all levels from decision-making to monitoring the implementation of decisions. It is high time now that this is realised on the ground.
15 16

Jal Swaraj Abiyan, Navdanya, Hauz Khas, New Delhi http://www.fema.gov/fima/damsafe/dsreport6.shtm