Watered-down priority.
The Centre is talking to states and other stakeholders to formulate a revised National Water Policy. A case of better late than never, the move could help in greater convergence of water issues and better water efficiency. However, revising policy — to whatever extent it is sound or progressive — can never take the place of priority. Where water is concerned, making it a priority issue to be tackled on a war footing is really the need of the hour.
The one and only time that water was a nationwide priority was when it became part of the Rajiv Gandhi technology missions. At that time too, it was only drinking water that held centrestage, though upstream water resources needed the same impetus. Nevertheless, at least on one front — drinking water — a lot of work was done and money spent. This did lead to an improvement in drinking water quality and consumption patterns in a larger number of states.
To a certain degree it had also led to awareness on water-borne diseases and ways and means to stem the specific problems that various geographical regions of the country face. But alas, the technology missions fell by the wayside after Rajiv Gandhi's demise, with subsequent governments giving them a virtual unsung burial.
FOCUS ON IRRIGATION
Once again, the water issue is rearing its head in the country. One is not sure if this is due to international pressure that has arisen out of global reports that India is one of the most vulnerable countries with respect to acute water scarcity in the future. Or, have our policymakers suddenly seen the light at the end of the tunnel? It is also pertinent to note that whenever we talk of “infrastructure” as a crying need for the country, we generally refer to roads, ports, electricity, telecommunications, but very rarely to the most important infrastructure of all — water. Though irrigation has recently joined the broad parameters of infrastructure in planning and policy, there has been very little “real” thrust in that direction from the government's end.
Nevertheless, we seem to be on the right path in our recognition of irrigation being the most pertinent problem, going by the recent 2030 Water Resources Group report, “Charting Our Water Future”. Brought out by the International Finance Corporation, McKinsey and other private stakeholders, the report among other things offers a “cost curve” as a means of analysis. The case study on India and the “cost curve” for the country very clearly shows that increasing drip and sprinkler irrigation would be one of the biggest contributions towards closing the water gap. The report, essentially meant for policymakers across the globe, “provides a means by which to compare the impact, cost and achievability of a range of measures and technologies that address water scarcity by boosting efficiency, augmenting supply and lessening the water-intensity of a country's economy”.
According to the report, by 2030 demand for water in India will grow to almost 1.5 trillion cubic meters, from the current water supply of approximately 740 billion cubic meters. This demand is expected to be driven by a larger population moving towards a “middle-class diet”, hence an increased domestic demand for rice, wheat and sugar from a growing population.
Hence, by 2030 India's river basins could face a severe water deficit, unless concerted action is taken. In this context the study says that while improved efficiency in industry and municipal water systems is critical, enhanced agricultural productivity — increasing “crop per drop” — is essential to closing the gap between demand and supply.
NATIONAL WATER POLICY
The revised National Water Policy also seems to be addressing some of the same issues that are coming up in international forums — like mandatory water budgeting, water auditing and tradable water entitlements for farmers. Though these should have been put in place decades ago in a country with a population as large as ours and a geography that is so diverse, it is still not too late.
However, these measures as well as others such as an independent Water Regulatory Authority for addressing water allocation and water use efficiency can only have a concerted impact if implementation becomes a priority. Mere amendments and good intentions will not do the trick.
The 2002 National Water Policy too had some interesting ideas. It had laid an emphasis on convergence of all schemes related to water and a well-developed information system and river basin organisations for the integrated and multidisciplinary management of entire drainage basins. In it water allocation was a priority, with drinking water coming first, followed by irrigation, hydropower, ecology, agro-industries and non-industries, navigation and other uses.
The 2002 policy had also talked about the ‘polluter pays' principle to manage polluted water and preserve existing water bodies from encroachment. But apart from sporadic protests by local activists in specific cases against private companies, little has happened on this front. And that's where the worry lies. As long as water and sanitation are not given the priority treatment by the Centre and brought on a par with sectors such as roads, power and telecommunication, the difference on the ground is going to be precious little.
The problem is obvious — with consumers not paying the value of the commodity, it does not fill sufficient coffers and hence does not have a profile as high as the others. But, nevertheless, it would be a prudent political move to ring the alarm bell, for water could well be the reason for governments to be voted to power or their fall in the future, as it was in the case with onions some years ago.
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