Water Advocacy - Report 2003

8/3/2019 Water Advocacy - Report 2003

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308, Mahatta Tower,

B-Block, Community Centre,Janakpuri, New Delhi -110 058

Tele-Fax 25516383 / 4 / 5

www.eficor.org

Organised by

Report

on

Regional Workshops on Water PolicyUttaranchal, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

February - March 2003

Prepared by

-K. Abraham Dennyson

- Joswant Kr. Hial


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Index

Page

1. Introduction 22. Preamble to Workshops 43. Course Module 64. Uttaranchal 75. Maharashtra 96. Orissa 127. Andhra Pradesh 148. Tamil Nadu 169. Kerala 1810.Major Recommendations 2011.Major Action Plan Adopted 2312.Conclusion 24


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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

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

The evaluation report of the United Nations on

Global Water Resources shows that India ranked

a poor 120th for its water quality. India also ranks

133rd

among 180 countries for its poor water

availability which is 1880 cum per person

annually. According to long-range UN

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 willbe 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.

1GOI Tenth Five Year Plan

2http://www.cnie.org/pop/pai/

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

stop the unsustainable

exploitation of water

resources by developing

water management

strategies to promote


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This report contains major issues, recommendations and action plans that came

up during discussion in the regional workshops on water policy held in

Uttaranchal Christian Mission Hospital, Chamba 17 & 18 Feb. 03

Maharashtra Community Development Society, Nagpur 21 & 22 Feb. 03

Orissa XIMB, Bhubaneshwar 27 & 28 Feb. 03

Andhra Pradesh Wood Bridge Hotel, Hydrabad 04 & 05 Mar. 03

Tamil Nadu Denobili Retreat Centre, Madurai 12 & 13 Mar. 03

Kerala: Hotel Elite International, Thrisshur 18 & 19 Mar. 03


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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. Asserting Water as an Inalienable Right.

2. Promoting People Based Governance

i. Water usage issues

ii. Decentralization of power

iii. Finance

3. Combating Corruption and Promoting Co-operatives.

4. Building Capacities for Mobilising Communities.

5. Rallying Support of Civil Society.

6. Pressing for People-Centred National Water Policies.

There was a series of workshops planned to follow up the aboverecommendations. 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 useallocation as: Drinking water; Irrigation; Hydropower; Ecology; Agro-

industries/non-agricultural industries; Navigation and other uses.

Participation of beneficiaries and other stakeholders in project planningand 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 citieswith priority compared toruralarea with so called national perspective.

In step to improve efficiency and optimal productivity per unit of waterthe approach to see water ascommodity.

3Recommendations for Action -EFICOR


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In effort to maximise the extent of utilisable water resources in thecountry the traditional methods of water resource management is

missed out.

Private sector participation in order to generate capital and introducecorporate 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 centralisedmacro-management and centralized

approach to handling water resources.

And a time boundaction 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.


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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

Background to workshop National Water Policy 2002

issues Arising

Session IV

Regional Water Issues Implications of NWP in the State

Session II

People Oriented Water ResourceManagement

Alternative techniques in WaterResource Management

Session V

Group Work Group Findings Reporting

Session III

Panel Discussion Participants, Water Experiences

Session VI

Evolving Recommendationstowards State Water Policy with

reference to National Water Policy

Evolving Future Action Plan


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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 wasencouraging 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 twoagencies. 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 damagesreimbursed caused by flash flood and land slide.

iii. An Overview of the National Water Policy 2002 and Water Issues FacingUttaranchal, Mr. K.A.Dennyson, Coordinator, EFICOR. Ganges istroubled 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 ProduceSustainable 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


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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 thewater 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. Drinking Water2. Irrigation3. Micro Hydel Projects4. Ecology5. Industries etc.

Action Plan

Dialogue with government offices and find out the status of State Water

Policy in the new state of Uttaranchal.


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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, DeputyDirector, Social Forestry, Nagpur. Watershed Area Development Team,

Watershed Area Development Associations and Watershed Committeesand 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 Ex-Senior 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 12-

15% 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 inwater management. Local communities can be trained to test / monitor

water quality.


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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 raindependent. 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 Rural1. Drinking Water2.

Irrigation etc.

o Urban1. Drinking Water

2. Water for Domestic Use3. 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.

4http://www.blonnet.com/bline/2002/08/26/stories/2002082600921300.htm

5http://envfor.nic.in/fsi/sfr97/A3.HTML#_Hlk439754779


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Orissa

The workshop was at XIMB, a modernized serene campus. The think tanks

from one of Indias leading management institute took active role inparticipating 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 wereamong 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 inter-

basin 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, Waterand Land Management Institute, Bhubaneshwar. Orissa has a rich

traditional water harvesting system. Micro-level innovations must be

encouraged

iv. 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.

v. Local Bodies and Water Management: Sectoral Reform forParticipatory 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.vi. 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


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be successful it should formed out felt need and have a benevolent

leadership.

vii. 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.

viii. Water and Peoples Right: Few Emerging Issues, Shri. Bipin Das, Co-ordinator, 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.

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 bigfarmers 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 withresponsibility.

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 intra-

basin 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.

6Use of Vulnerability Indices for Agriculture, S. Selvarajan et al, ICAR


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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.


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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 integratedapproach. There needs to be a mechanism to coordinate differentinstutions related to Water Resource Management.

ii. Effective Management of Water Resources,Mr. V. S. Evans, ExecutiveEngineer, 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.

iii. Pressing for people Centred Policy, Prof. P. Anand Raj, AssociateProfesssor, REC, Warangal. The institutional and communicationalbottlenecks need to be addressed in achieving a people centred water

policy.

iv. 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

v. Deteriorating Groundwater Because of Commercial Brine ShrimpFarming 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.


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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 waterresource 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.


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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 PulseResearch 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 PulseResearch 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, ChiefEngineer (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: Privatisationwill mean higher prices for poor who have to use less or go without. Inter-

state 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

7http://www.rediff.com/news/03/jan/23tn.htm

8http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/08/21/stories/2002082104491300.htm


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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'sagricultural 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.

9http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2004/stories/030228003104700.htm

10http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2005/stories/20030314001205300.htm


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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 scalablesolution 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 nosuccessful precedents to interlinking of rivers.

ii. Dr.D.Muraleedharan, Scientist-NGRI, Hyderabad. Reliableinformation / 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 theDay, 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. Waterresources 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


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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 water12

flow 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 3300m3out of a total estimated 3500m3annual

recharge has added to the crisis.

Recommendations:

Inter-State Disputes: Water should continue to a State matter. A

monitoring body with surveillance facility comprising the concernedparties 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 letterand 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 67-6912

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kis/schools/hums/geog/water/occasionalpapers/acrobatfiles/occ26.pdf


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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 humanright. 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 drinkingwater 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 basicminimumneed 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

13Jal Swaraj Abiyan Navdanya, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.


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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 upleadership and managerial roles in water resource policies and

management. There should be at least 33% representation of women inthe 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 localcommunity.

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 cannotbe 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 belooked 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.


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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. Theseinnovative 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 Institutionsaffected 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.

14Participatory Approach in Water Resources Management Seminar Paper by Mr.V.S.Evans


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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-poorpolicymaking.

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.


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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. ManibhaiDesai 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 basicquestions:

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 shouldalso 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.

15Jal Swaraj Abiyan, Navdanya, Hauz Khas, New Delhi

16http://www.fema.gov/fima/damsafe/dsreport6.shtm

Documents

Water Advocacy - Report 2003