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Centre forms committee to draft new water policy
Why in news?
- The Union Water Resources Ministry has finalised a committee to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP).
More in news
- To be chaired by Mihir Shah(former Planning Commission member) and a water expert.
- Committee will have 10 principal members.
- Expected to produce a report within six months.
- In September, Union Water Resources Minister had said that the Centre was planning to update the NWP and make key changes in water governance structure and regulatory framework.
- A National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency was also on the cards.
- The current NWP in force was drafted in 2012.
(1) It had the concept of an Integrated Water Resources Management approach that took the “river basin/ subbasin” as a unit for planning, development and management of water resources.
(2) It also proposed that a portion of river flows ought to be kept aside to meet ecological needs.
(3) Such an approach led to the government, in 2018, requiring minimum water levels to be maintained in the Ganga all through the year and hydropower projects to refrain from hoarding water beyond a point.
(4) It also stressed for a minimum quantity of potable water for essential health and hygiene to all its citizens to be made available within easy reach of households.
Sources
The Hindu