Integrating Water and Energy Development: Search for inclusive attributes

摘要

IWRM (Integrated Water Resources Management) concept was annunciated by Global Water Partnership forum, almost a decade ago. The relevance and extent of its application to India came to be discussed by analysts, over the years. Time is ripe to take a review and bring out issues for the Decade Ahead. National water policy presently forms the corner stone of government investments in water sector . This had been revised from time to time, and is under review again. The concept being dynamic in time, is tailored to meet needs of changing water demands and priorities, consistent with resources. Water, land, food security, energy, environment, industry etc, form the list of interactive resources, which are to be consistent with experience, water demand, social and economic considerations. Water priorities vary from state to state,and some states have in fact appointed regulators to verify the appropriate claims. India achieved the level of self sufficiency in cereal grains, using low energy input technology of dam storages with canals, for irrigating large patches of its drought prone perched lands. Electricity was provided for ground water use, under head minor irrigation. This helped India achieve a reasonable level of food security, introduced the concept of water markets in private held pumping schemes. The time has since witnessed Foreign Direct Investments(FDI) in food storage, distribution, and marketing of food crops by providing credit and assured buy back of agricultural produce. The concept is being developed, for remunerating the farmers, reducing middle men involved in sale of non-procured cereal crops (by Government agencies). The rationale for providing jobs- hours to farm workers, distribution of food to poor section of society and reassessment of calorie value of food required by a healthy individuals, could a subject of pilot study.