{"id":161689,"date":"2025-04-10T20:02:05","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T14:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=161689"},"modified":"2025-04-10T20:02:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T14:32:05","slug":"water-management-in-india","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/water-management-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Water Management in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Union Cabinet recently approved the <\/span>Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)<\/b> as a <\/span>sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)<\/b> for the period <\/span>2025-2026<\/b> with an initial total outlay of<\/span> Rs.1600 crore.<\/b><\/p>\n

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SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)<\/b> is a computer-based system that gathers and analyzes<\/span> real-time data<\/b> to monitor and control equipment that deals with critical and <\/span>time-sensitive materials or events.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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About the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) Scheme<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Key Objectives and Features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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  • Modernization of Irrigation Systems<\/b>:<\/span>\n
      \n
    • Goal<\/b>: Improve irrigation water supply infrastructure to ensure water reaches designated farming clusters from existing sources (e.g., canals).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Scope<\/b>: Focus on modernizing the backend infrastructure for <\/span>micro-irrigation<\/b> and water supply up to <\/span>1 hectare per farm<\/b> via underground pressurized piped irrigation systems.<\/span>Technologies<\/b>:<\/span>\n
        \n
      • SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)<\/b>: For real-time monitoring and control.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Internet of Things (IoT)<\/b>: Used for efficient water accounting and management, improving <\/span>Water Use Efficiency (WUE)<\/b> at the farm level.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Increased Agricultural Productivity<\/b>: The modernization will <\/span>increase agriculture production and productivity<\/b>, leading to <\/span>higher income for farmers<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT)<\/b>:<\/span>\n
          \n
        • Sustainability<\/b>: The scheme includes the <\/span>Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT)<\/b> to <\/span>Water User Societies (WUS)<\/b>, which will be responsible for the management of irrigation assets.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Support<\/b>: WUS will be given <\/span>handholding support for five years<\/b>, helping them connect with economic entities such as <\/span>Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)<\/b> or <\/span>Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS)<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Youth Engagement in Farming<\/b>: Attract <\/span>youth<\/b> to adopt modern irrigation techniques and engage in farming, helping to modernize agricultural practices across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Implementation Strategy<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
            \n
          • Pilot Phase (2025-26)<\/b>: <\/span>Challenge funding<\/b> to states for projects across <\/span>different agro-climatic zones<\/b>.<\/span>\n
              \n
            • Lessons will shape the <\/span>National Plan for Command Area Development<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Full-scale Launch (From April 2026)<\/b>: Aligned with <\/span>16th Finance Commission period<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              <\/p>\n\n\n\n
              Annual per-capita water availability <\/b>of less than<\/span> 1700 cubic meter<\/b> is considered as <\/span>water stressed condition<\/b> whereas annual per-capita water availability <\/span>below 1000<\/b> cubic meters is considered as a <\/span>water scarcity condition.<\/b><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

              <\/div>\n

              India’s Water Status<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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              • Water Availability and Population Pressure: <\/b>India has <\/span>4% of the world’s freshwater<\/b> but <\/span>18% of the world\u2019s population<\/b>, making it <\/span>one of the most water-stressed countries<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                  \n
                • Per capita water availability has declined from <\/span>5,410 m\u00b3\/year (1951)<\/b> to <\/span>1,614 m\u00b3\/year (2011)<\/b> and is projected to fall to <\/span>1,235 m\u00b3\/year by 2050<\/b>\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Precipitation Pattern: <\/b>India receives an average of <\/span>4,000 km\u00b3 rainfall annually<\/b>, but <\/span>high temporal and spatial variability<\/b> means that only <\/span>~1,123 km\u00b3 is utilizable<\/b>\u200b.<\/span>\n
                    \n
                  • 80-90% of rainfall<\/b> occurs during the <\/span>4-month monsoon<\/b> window, often in just <\/span>100 hours\/year<\/b>, leading to floods and underutilization\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • Groundwater Dependency and Crisis: 63% of irrigation water<\/b> and <\/span>90% of rural drinking water<\/b> comes from groundwater\u200b.<\/span>\n
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                    • India withdraws <\/span>25% of the world\u2019s groundwater<\/b>, <\/span>more than the US and China combined<\/b>\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • 60% of districts<\/b> are in the <\/span>critical<\/b> category for groundwater\u2014overexploited or poor quality\u200b\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Pollution and Quality Concerns: 70% of surface water<\/b> is polluted due to untreated sewage, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff\u200b.<\/span>\n
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                      • India is ranked <\/span>120 out of 122 countries<\/b> on the <\/span>global water quality index\u200b.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                      • Urban and Rural Water Challenges: Urban water losses<\/b> due to leakage are massive; e.g., <\/span>Mumbai loses 700 million liters\/day<\/b>\u200b.<\/span>\n
                          \n
                        • More than 50% of the population<\/b> lacks access to safe drinking water; <\/span>200,000 deaths\/year<\/b> occur due to waterborne diseases\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n
                        • Over 75% of households<\/b> lack clean drinking water, and <\/span>40% of Indians may have no access to drinking water by 2030<\/b>\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                        • Economic Cost and Development Impact: NITI Aayog<\/b> warns that water scarcity could lead to a <\/span>6% loss in GDP by 2050<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                            \n
                          • Water stress already affects <\/span>agricultural output, health, education<\/b>, and <\/span>livelihoods<\/b>, especially among women and rural poor\u200b\u200b.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Water Management in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                              \n
                            • Water management refers to the <\/span>planning, development, distribution, regulation, and conservation<\/b> of water resources \u2014 both surface and groundwater \u2014 for <\/span>drinking, agriculture, industry, sanitation<\/b>, and <\/span>ecosystem sustenance<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Constitutional Provisions For Water in India<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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                              • State Subject (Entry 17, List II)<\/b>: Water is primarily a <\/span>State subject<\/b> \u2014 covering water supply, irrigation, canals, drainage, water storage, and water power.<\/span><\/li>\n
                              • Union List (Entry 56, List I)<\/b>:\u00a0 Parliament can regulate and develop <\/span>inter-State rivers and river valleys<\/b> if it serves the <\/span>public interest<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                              • Article 262 \u2013 Water Dispute Resolution<\/b>:\u00a0 Enables Parliament to provide for <\/span>adjudication of inter-State river disputes<\/b> and <\/span>bars Supreme Court\u2019s jurisdiction<\/b> if a tribunal is set up.<\/span><\/li>\n
                              • Right to Water under Article 21<\/b>:\u00a0 The <\/span>Right to Life<\/b> has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the <\/span>Right to Clean and Safe Drinking Water<\/b> (e.g., <\/span>Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar<\/span><\/i>, 1991).<\/span><\/li>\n
                              • Directive Principles & Fundamental Duties<\/b>:<\/span>\n
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                                • Article 48A<\/b>: State must protect <\/span>environment, forests, and water bodies<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Article 51A(g)<\/b>: Duty of citizens to protect <\/span>natural environment<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                • Local Governance Empowerment<\/b>: <\/span>Articles 243G & 243W<\/b> empower <\/span>Panchayats and Municipalities<\/b> to manage water supply, irrigation, and sanitation under the <\/span>11th and 12th Schedules<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Legislative Framework for Water Management in India<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956<\/b>:\u00a0 Enacted under <\/span>Article 262<\/b>, it provides for the <\/span>adjudication of disputes<\/b> relating to the use, distribution, and control of waters of <\/span>inter-state rivers<\/b> through tribunals (e.g., Cauvery, Krishna).<\/span><\/li>\n
                                  • River Boards Act, 1956<\/b>:\u00a0 Empowers the Central Government to set up <\/span>River Boards<\/b> for <\/span>inter-state river regulation and development<\/b>, though never operationalized.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                  • Environment Protection Act, 1986<\/b>:\u00a0 A comprehensive framework for <\/span>water pollution control<\/b>, under which the <\/span>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974<\/b> also functions via the <\/span>Central and State Pollution Control Boards<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Institutional Framework for Water Management in India<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                                      \n
                                    • Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS)<\/b>:\u00a0 The <\/span>nodal central ministry<\/b> (formed in 2019) responsible for <\/span>policy formulation<\/b>, coordination, and implementation of major schemes like <\/span>PMKSY<\/b>, <\/span>Jal Jeevan Mission<\/b>, and <\/span>Namami Gange<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • Central Water Commission (CWC)<\/b>:\u00a0 A premier <\/span>technical body<\/b> under MoJS, responsible for <\/span>surface water assessment<\/b>, project planning, flood forecasting, and advisory support to states on irrigation and dam safety.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)<\/b>:\u00a0 Monitors and regulates <\/span>groundwater resources<\/b>, prepares aquifer maps, and advises on sustainable groundwater usage and recharge.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • State Water Resources\/Irrigation Departments<\/b>:\u00a0 Implement and manage <\/span>state-level water projects<\/b>, local irrigation, and intra-state water governance, aligned with central schemes.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • Decentralized Institutions<\/b>: <\/span>Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)<\/b> and <\/span>Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)<\/b> manage local water supply and sanitation.<\/span>\n
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                                      • Water Users’ Associations (WUAs)<\/b> promote <\/span>Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)<\/b> at the grassroots level under schemes like <\/span>CADWM<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        Major Government Initiatives for Water Management in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                                          \n
                                        • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) (2015): <\/b>Umbrella scheme for <\/span>irrigation expansion<\/b>, <\/span>micro-irrigation<\/b>, and <\/span>water conservation<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                            \n
                                          • Key components: <\/span>Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)<\/b>, <\/span>CADWM<\/b>,<\/span> Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)<\/b>, and <\/span>Watershed Development<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                          • Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) (2019): <\/b>Aims to provide <\/span>Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs)<\/b> to all <\/span>rural households<\/b> by <\/span>2024<\/b>.<\/span>\n
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                                            • Focus on <\/span>source sustainability<\/b>, <\/span>community engagement<\/b>, and <\/span>IoT-based water quality monitoring<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                            • Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020): <\/b>Targets <\/span>critical groundwater blocks<\/b> in <\/span>7 water-stressed states<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                                \n
                                              • Promotes <\/span>aquifer recharge<\/b>, <\/span>water budgeting<\/b>, and <\/span>Gram Panchayat-based planning<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                              • World Bank-supported initiative.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                              • Namami Gange Programme (2014): <\/b>Includes <\/span>sewage treatment<\/b>, <\/span>industrial effluent management<\/b>, <\/span>biodiversity conservation<\/b>, and <\/span>riverfront development<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • Implemented by <\/span>National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                • Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): <\/b>Focuses on <\/span>rainwater harvesting<\/b>, <\/span>check dams<\/b>, <\/span>water reuse<\/b>, and <\/span>awareness campaigns<\/b>.<\/span>\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Covers water-stressed districts across India during monsoon and pre-monsoon phases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                  • National Water Mission (NWM): <\/b>One of the <\/span>8 missions<\/b> under the <\/span>National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)<\/b>.<\/span>\n