National Water Mission

The National Water Mission (NWM)[1] is an initiative established in India to address the adverse impacts of climate change on water resources. It was formed as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which was approved by the Government of India and released by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on June 30, 2008.[2] The NAPCC identified the need for institutionalizing various national missions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, with one of them being the NWM.

The NWM aims to ensure integrated water resource management, promoting water conservation, minimizing wastage, and ensuring equitable distribution within and across states.

Goals

The National Water Mission adopts a non-siloed approach to water management, breaking down sectors and verticals in water policy to promote an integrated and holistic approach. The mission has identified five goals to guide its efforts:

  1. Comprehensive water database and assessment of climate change impact: The mission aims to develop a publicly accessible water database and assess the impact of climate change on water resources.
  2. Promotion of water conservation, augmentation, and preservation: The mission seeks to encourage citizen and state actions to conserve, augment, and preserve water resources.
  3. Focused attention to vulnerable areas: Special attention is given to areas that are prone to water scarcity and overexploitation.
  4. Increasing water use efficiency by 20%: The mission aims to improve water use efficiency across various sectors, including irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, and industries.
  5. Promotion of basin-level integrated water resources management: The mission emphasizes the need for integrated water resources management at the basin level to ensure sustainable and equitable water allocation.

Role

The National Water Mission serves as a coordinating body, working in collaboration with the implementing wings and bodies of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Water Power) and its allied departments and ministries. It brings together stakeholders such as central and state government ministries, NGOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYKS), and international organizations to create awareness and foster a sense of responsibility among citizens regarding water management.

Activities and strategies

The National Water Mission undertakes various activities and strategies to achieve its goals:

  1. All India Annual State Ministers Conference on Water: This conference provides a platform for state ministers of water resources, public health engineering departments, and irrigation to discuss and align their vision with the national goals of water management.
  2. Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE): The BWUE, established under the National Water Mission, focuses on improving water use efficiency across sectors. It promotes, regulates, and controls the efficient use of water in irrigation, industrial, and domestic sectors.
  3. Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) campaign: This flagship campaign of the National Water Mission aims to conserve water by promoting water conservation and rainwater harvesting, creating water body inventories, setting up Jal Shakti Kendras, intensive afforestation, and generating awareness.
  4. Jal Shakti Kendras: Jal Shakti Kendras serve as knowledge centers at the district level, disseminating information on water conservation techniques and providing technical guidance to people.
  5. State Specific Action Plans for Water Sector: The National Water Mission supports the formulation of State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs) for the water sector, covering irrigation, industry, domestic, and wastewater. Financial assistance is provided to states for developing these plans.
  6. HRD and Capacity Building: The National Water Mission conducts training programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns in collaboration with state governments and government agencies to enhance human resource development and capacity building in water management.

References
  1. "NATIONAL WATER MISSION". Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. "Climate Change Programme". Department Of Science & Technology. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
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