Inter Basin Water Transfer Link Project of India

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Inter Basin Water Transfer link Project

National Commission

National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan

The Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources has considered it necessary that the scientific development of water resources should be taken up considering river basin/ sub-basin as a unit. Maximising the availability of utilisable water may involve transfer of water from surplus basin to water-short basin in the overall interest of the country, to give much needed relief and distribute the benefits more evenly. Integrated development of water resources of both surface and ground water, can optimise benefits resulting in economical use of the available water.

The Government of India set up a National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan under the Chairmanship of Dr. S.R. Hashim, Member, Planning Commission with following members :-

i.   Shri V. Ramachandran, Ex-Chief Secretary,   

     Government of Kerala

ii.   Dr. V.S. Vyas (Economist), Director, Institute of

      Development Studies

iii.   Dr. D.N. Tiwari, former Chancellor, F.R.I.,

      Dehradun

iv.   Shri S. Prakash, former Engineer-in-Chief,

      Delhi Water Supply &  Sewage Disposal

      Undertaking

v.    Shri C.C. Patel, former Secretary (WR),

      Government of India

vi.   Dr. Bharat Singh, former Vice-Chancellor,

      University of Roorkee

vii.  Shri S. P. Caprihan, Engineer-in-Chief (Retd.),

      Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Co-opted Members:

vii.  Additional Secretary, Ministry of Water

      Resources

ix.  Chairman, Central Water Commission

x.   Shri Ramaswamy R.Iyer, former Secretary,

      Ministry of Water Resources

xi.  Dr. B.G. Verghese, Research Professor, Centre

      for Policy Research

xii. Chairman, Central Ground Water Board.

xiii. Director General, National Water Development

      Agency Member- Secretary

The objectives of the Commission are as follows :-

• To prepare an integrated water plan for development of water resources for drinking, irrigation, industrial, flood control and other uses ;

• To suggest modalities for transfer of surplus water to water deficit basins by inter-linking of rivers for achieving the above objectives ;

• To identify important ongoing projects as well as new projects which should be completed on priority basis in a phased manner ;

• To identify a technological and inter disciplinary research plan for the water sector with a view to maximising the benefits ;

• To suggest the strategies for generation of physical and financial resources for the water sector ;

• Any other related issue

The work of the Commission was expected to be completed in two years. The term of the National Commission has been extended upto 30.9.1999. The Commission is to submit its report by 30.9.1999. The Secretarial services to the Commission are being provided by NWDA. The National Commission is functioning in Trikut Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.

Nine Working Groups were formed under the Chairmanship of various members of National Commission to deal with specialised fields covering the terms of reference of the National Commission. The names of the various Working Groups are listed below :

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Sl. No. Name of Working Group

1.  Perspective of Water Requirements.

2.  Water Availability for use.

3.  Water Management for Agriculture, Hydropower,

    Flood Control and Other Allied Sectors.

4.  Water Management for Domestic, Industrial and

    Other Uses.

5.  Legal, Institutional and Financial Aspects.

6.  Environmental Aspects.

7.  Inter-basin Transfer of Water.

8.  Prioritisation of Ongoing and New Projects together

     with Phasing.

9.  International Dimensions of Water Planning.

The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan has submitted its partial report to the Government of India on 1.12.99.

The main recommendations of the Commission are as under :

1. Continued government funding on enhanced scale for major projects, instilling financial discipline and prioritisation of projects for channelising the funds. Central assistance to major projects to be projectwise instead of being part of the overall plan assistance.

2. Need for well laid down compensation packages for all categories of project affected persons. While doing so, the Commission has emphasised that resettlement and rehabilitation projects be implemented by a functional authority with sufficient funds.

3. Need for amending the existing Inter-State Water Disputes Act,1956, enactment of a new Act in lieu of the existing River Board's Act, 1956,
and also amending the existing Irrigation Acts which would facilitate participatory irrigation management.

4. Optimal utilisation of land and water should be aimed at in basins having surplus before considering interbasin transfers (intrabasin transfer to be given first priority).

5. Setting up of River Basin Organisation for each Inter-State River having representation from the concerned State Governments, Water Users etc.

6. Substantial revision of present water rates to cover the entire operation & maintainance expenses, constituting Water Pricing Authority on the analogy of existing Energy Pricing Authorities.

7. For environment protection, the principle of "User Pays, Polluter Pays" need to be adopted for industrial uses.

8. Need for revising the National Water Policy (1987), need for making hydrological data for all basins freely available to all interested.

9. For flood control measures, Commission has recommended preparation of disaster preparedness plans, performance review of embankments and policy to regulate the land use in different flood zones. Existing flood forecasting system be strengthened and modernised using telemetry and satellite communication.

10. For optimal and integrated development of trans - Himalayan rivers, India should work for cooperation amongst the neighbouring countries. For this purpose, it has been suggested that National Water Development Agency (NWDA) in India, Water Resource Planning Organisations (WARPO) in Bangladesh and Energy Development Authority (EDA) in Nepal be designated to interact as a clearing house of information.

11. For hydropower development, Commission has recommended creation of hydropower development fund, promotion of joint ventures, tariff rationalisation etc.

12. For navigation development, the Commission has recommended that Inland Water Transport be treated as a nascent industry.

Source:  Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.

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