Water Management in India: A Historical and Constitutional Perspective

Historically, water management in India has evolved from traditional systems to modern engineering marvels. Ancient civilizations developed sophisticated irrigation and water harvesting techniques. Post-independence, the focus shifted towards large-scale irrigation projects and urban water supply schemes.

Constitutional Provisions: Water is primarily a State Subject under Entry 17 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This means states have the primary responsibility for water supply, irrigation, canals, drainage, embankments, water storage, and water power. However, Parliament can legislate on inter-state rivers and river valleys under Entry 56 of List I (Union List).

Key Government Initiatives: The Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed in 2019 by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Its objective is to provide clean drinking water and manage water resources holistically. Flagship programs include the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), aiming to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024, and the National Water Mission (NWM) under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), focusing on conservation of water, minimizing wastage, and ensuring equitable distribution across and within states.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): This approach promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. A robust information backbone is a critical component of IWRM, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Data-driven Governance: In today's era, effective governance relies heavily on data. For a critical resource like water, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating accurate data on availability, demand, quality, and infrastructure is paramount for efficient resource allocation, policy formulation, and impact assessment.

Building the information backbone for India’s drinking water future

AI Synthesized Notes

AI Synthesized Notes