ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 31
Assessment
Environment and Forest)
(8) Department of Concerning Watershed
Forest Management
(9) Department of Power Concerning Hydroelectric PowerMEASUREMENT TO CHECK OVER-UTILIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES
In our country the Ministry of Water Resources is entrusted with the function of laying
down policies and programmes for development and regulation of the country’s water
resources. Under its jurisdiction come the following:
(1) Sartorial planning,
(2) Co-ordination,
(3) Policy guidelines,
(4) Technical examination and tech-economic appraisal of projects,
(5) Providing central assistance to specific projects.
(6) Facilitation of external assistance and assistance in the resolution of interstate
water disputes,
(7) Policy formulation, planning and guidance in respect of minor irrigation,
(8) Command area development
(9) Development of ground water resources etc.
Evidently, its jurisdiction is quite wide. It was in September 1987 that the National
Water Resources council adopted the National Water Policy. The council laid stress on the
truth that ‘Water’ is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national
asset. As such, its over consumption and wastage should be discontinued at every cost. It held
that planning and development of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives.
Since 1987, a great number of issues and challenges have emerged in the development
and management of the water resources sector. As such, it was felt necessary to review the
National Water Policy. The same was done and the (Revised) National Water Policy was
adopted by the National Water Resources Council in its fifth meeting held on 1 April 2002
at New Delhi. All the states besides the centre are required to adopt immediate measures
in order to achieve the desired objectives of the policy, each state has to formulate its own
State Water Policy, backed with an operational action plan in a time-bound manner, the
period so stipulated is a period of two years.
Assessment of Water Resources
It is assessed that the average run-off in the river system of the country is 1,869 km^3
(cubic kilometers). It is estimated that of this, the utilisable portion by conventional storage
and diversion is about 690 km^3. Besides it, the replenishable grounder water potential in the
country is estimated at 432 km^3. A fall is visible in the per-capita availability of water at
national level from about 5,177 m^3 (cubic meters) in 1951 to the estimated level of 1,869 m^3
in 2001 with great variation in water availability in different river basins.