Published on 02 Feb 2025
NWP was formulated to govern the planning and development of water resources and their optimum utilisation. The first NWP was adopted in September 1987. It was reviewed and updated in 2002 and later in 2012.
National Water Policy, 2012
Perspective for Water Resources Planning: Integrated perspective considering local, regional, State and national context.
Information system: All water-related data, should be integrated with well-defined procedures and formats to ensure online updation and transfer of data to facilitate the development of a database for informed decision-making in the management of water.
Demand Management: Emphasizes shifting focus from increasing supply to promoting water conservation measures like rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and efficient industrial practices.
Inter-basin Transfers: Proposes careful consideration and stakeholder consultation before undertaking inter-basin water transfer projects
Public-Private Partnerships: Encourages private sector participation in water infrastructure development and operation, with proper regulations and safeguards.
Shortcomings of National Water Policy, 2012
Limited progress: Many policy principles haven't been translated into action due to inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient stakeholder involvement.
Bureaucratic hurdles: Complex bureaucratic processes and unclear implementation mechanisms hinder effective policy execution.
Overemphasis on supply augmentation: While infrastructure projects like dams and canals are important, the policy prioritizes them over equally crucial demand management strategies like rainwater harvesting and efficient water use.
Limited attention to environmental concerns: The policy doesn't adequately address the environmental impacts of water resource development projects, such as deforestation, ecological displacement, and water pollution.
No effective conflict resolution mechanisms: The policy lacks clear guidelines for resolving water disputes between states, leading to protracted legal battles and hindering equitable water distribution.
Inadequate focus on marginalized communities: The policy doesn't sufficiently address the needs of marginalized groups like tribal communities and women who often face limited access to clean water and sanitation.
Limited role of the private sector: The policy could encourage private sector participation in water management with strong regulations to ensure public accountability and prevent exploitation.
Draft National Water Policy
The Department of Water Resources, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, constituted a drafting committee in November 2019 to revise the existing National Water Policy (NWP). Mihir Shah, a renowned water expert and a former member of the Planning Commission, chaired the committee.
Crop diversification: Irrigation consumes 80-90 per cent of India’s water. Thus, crop diversification is the single most important step in resolving India’s water crisis. Policy suggests diversifying public procurement operations to include nutri-cereals, pulses and oilseeds.
Water quality department: It proposes that every water ministry at the centre and the states include a water quality department.
Sewage treatment: Policy advocates a state of the art, low-cost, low-energy, Eco-sensitive technologies for sewage treatment.
Nature-based solutions: Supply of water through “nature-based solutions” such as the rejuvenation of catchment areas, to be incentivised through compensation for ecosystem services.
Reduce-Recycle-Reuse: This has been proposed as the basic mantra of integrated urban water supply and wastewater management. All non-potable use, such as flushing, fire protection, and vehicle washing must mandatorily shift to treated wastewater.
Rights of rivers: NWP accords river protection and revitalisation prior and primary importance. It outlines a process to draft a Rights of Rivers Act, including their right to flow, to meander and to meet the sea.
Governance of water: Reforming governance of water used for irrigation, drinking water, surface water, groundwater and wastewater.
National Water Commission: Suggests for the creation of a unified multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder National Water Commission.
Taskforce: it suggests a task force on emerging water contaminants to better understand and tackle threats they are likely to pose.
Issues with Draft National Water Policy
Need for new national water policy: This will be the third national water policy if approved in the last 25 years. The first national water policy came in 1987, then in 2002 and the third in 2012.
Crop diversification: Easy shift from conventional crops like wheat and rice to multi cereals and millet is difficult.
Impact on traditional water rights: Some communities fear the policy might undermine existing customary water rights and traditional water management practices.
Environmental concerns: While the policy mentions climate change adaptation, some argue it lacks concrete measures to protect ecosystems and prioritize environmental flows.
Governance reforms: The proposed establishment of task forces and reforms in water institutions require careful planning and execution to ensure effectiveness.
Way forward
Public procurement and MSP: Ensuring high MSP and diversifying public procurement options.
Communicate the policy clearly and effectively: Engage in transparent and open dialogues with different stakeholders to address concerns and build trust.
Implement the policy gradually and adaptively: Consider phased implementation with pilot projects to assess impacts and make adjustments as needed.
Foster inter-state and regional cooperation: Encourage collaborative water management approaches across state boundaries to address inter-basin transfers and other shared challenges.
Invest in institutional capacity building: Enhance the expertise and resources of water management agencies to effectively monitor and enforce the policy.
Geography
National Water Policy
water
water resource
water conservation
water stress
Shortcomings of National Water Policy 2012
Draft National Water Policy
Issues with Draft National Water Policy
General Studies Paper 1
Salient Features of Indian Geography