Skewed availability of water potential for social unrest: govt

New Delhi: Noting that large parts of the country have become “water stressed”, the government has warned of potential “social unrest” due to its “skewed” availability in different regions. The draft of the latest National Water Policy released recently admits that large parts of India have “already become water stressed. Rapid growth in demand for water due to population growth, urbanisation and changing lifestyle pose serious challenges to water security”. [caption id=“attachment_203770” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“According to the draft policy, access to safe drinking water still continues to be a problem in some areas. Reuters”]  [/caption] According to the draft policy, access to safe drinking water still continues to be a problem in some areas. Other concerns flagged in the policy include increase in sea levels which “may lead to salinity intrusion in ground water aquifers or surface waters and increased coastal inundation in coastal regions.” Wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water may increase substantially due to climate changes, causing more water crisis and incidences of water related disasters, like floods, increased erosion and increased frequency of droughts. The policy also points that in the water-rich eastern and north eastern regions of India, the water-use infrastructure is weak and needs to be strengthened in the interest of food security. “Community should be sensitised and encouraged to adapt to utilisation of water as per local availability of water. Community-based water management should be institutionalised and strengthened,” it said. In the draft water policy, government also admits that lack of adequate trained personnel for scientific planning, utilising modern techniques and analytical capabilities incorporating information technology “constrains” good water management. It also laments that a holistic and inter-disciplinary approach to water-related problems is “missing”. “The public agencies in charge of taking water-related decisions tend to take these on their own without consultation with stakeholders,” it said. The policy has supported the need to evolve a broad over-arching national legal framework on water and suggested devolution of authority to lower tiers of governance to deal with local water-related issues. “Even while it is recognised that states have a right to frame suitable policies, laws and regulations on water, there is a felt need to evolve a broad over-arching national legal framework of general principles on water,” it said. According to the document, the legal framework will “lead the way” for essential legislation on water governance in every state of the country and devolution of necessary authority to the lower tiers of government to deal with the local water scenario. The Centre had adopted a Water Policy in 2002 and consultations for the latest policy began two years ago. After making changes following receipt of comments, the draft would be placed before National Water Board and National Water Resources Council for finalisation and adoption. PTI