Water governance has assumed new importance given the unprecedented scale and complexity of today’s water problems. The Centre can work with the states in building a credible institutional architecture for gathering data and producing knowledge about water resources, a foundational necessity to address most federal water governance challenges.
The Interstate River Water Disputes Amendment Bill 2019 seeks to improve the inter-state water disputes resolution by setting up a permanent tribunal supported by a deliberative mechanism, the dispute resolution committee.
The Dam Safety Bill 2019 aims to deal with the risks of India’s ageing dams, with the help of a comprehensive federal institutional framework comprising committees and authorities for dam safety at national and state levels.
Jal Jeevan Mission JJM aims to provide every rural household with functional household tap connections (FHTCs) with adequate quantity and of prescribed quality of water on a regular and long-term basis by 2024.
It is being implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti Ministry.
Drinking water supply in rural areas is from both from the groundwater (80%) and surface water (20%) sources. However, due to the depleting groundwater level, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, the use of surface water is on the rise.
Hence, for both groundwater and surface water based rural drinking water supply systems, it is important to measure relevant area-specific contaminations to ensure access to potable water.
Further, the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol, 2019 has also specified some important parameters to be monitored for assuring portability of drinking water as per BIS IS 10500:2012 and subsequent amendments.
The Centre and the states need to work in a partnership model to defend the emerging concerns of long-term national water security and sustainability, the risks of climate change, and the growing environmental challenges, including river pollution.
A national water security strategy must take into account the full range of needs and threats facing communities and ecosystems; it must consider local capacity, needs, priorities and capabilities, and state capacity to help meet these needs.
It should consider regional interoperability, as well as global security and environmental justice issues. A successful approach must be part integrated, national security policy, part addressing climate change at the state, national, and global levels.