efficient use of water; setting up of water regulatory authority by each state; and incentivizing
recycle and reuse of water. The Policy also lays emphasis on community participation in
management of water resources projects and services; incentivizing water saving in irrigation
through methods like micro irrigation, automated irrigation operation, etc; undertaking
conservation of rivers, river corridors, water bodies and infrastructure in a scientifically planned
manner through community participation; and arresting declining ground water levels in over-
exploited areas.
National Water Mission
With a view to address Climate Change and the related issues, the National Action Plan on
Climate Change (NAPCC) was prepared by the Government, which laid down the principles and
identified the approach to be adopted to meet the challenges of impact of climate change through
eight national missions. National Water Mission is one of the missions under NAPCC.
The main objective of the National Water Mission is (NWM) “conservation of water,
minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States
through integrated water resources development and management”. The five identified goals of
the Mission are: (a) comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of impact
of climate change on water resource; (b) promotion of citizen and state action for water
conservation, augmentation and preservation; (c) focused attention to vulnerable areas including
over-exploited areas; (d) increasing water use efficiency by 20 per cent, and (e) promotion of
basin level integrated water resources management. Various strategies for achieving the goals
have been identified which lead to integrated planning for sustainable development and efficient
management with active participation of the stakeholders.
Main Activities
Comprehensive water data base in public domain: India-WRIS (Water Resource
Information System), a portal for providing information on water resources has been developed
by Central Water Commission. All the data pertaining to surface water and ground water are
made available at India-WRIS. GIS data pertaining to surface water resources and ground water
resources are displayed on the site of India-WRIS.
NWM Web Portal
An independent Web Portal of NWM was launched. The portal aims at providing all the
information relating to water resources, organisations and their activities on different aspects of
water resources at one point.
Assessment of Impact of Climate Change on water resources: NWM has identified eight
river basins (Mahanadi, Mahi, Luni, Tapi, Sutlej, Sabarmati, Subarnarekha and western flowing
rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari) for study of impact of climate change in association with
research institutes like IITs, NITs, IISc. and NIH under the R & D scheme of the Ministry.
National Mission for Clean Ganga
The Ganga basin is the most populous in the world, with more than 400 million people in
India alone. It accounts for 28 per cent of India’s water resources, holds about 26 per cent of
India’s land mass and hosts 43 per cent of the population. The main stem of the river traverses 5