Writing on the water

Context:  With the slew of bills waiting in the parliament and the latest Jal Jeevan Mission provides an opportunity for the Centre and the states to come together for water governance.

Measure taken for improved water governance in India:

• The Interstate River Water Disputes Amendment Bill: Seeks to improve the inter-state water disputes resolution by setting up a permanent tribunal supported by a dispute resolution committee.
• The Dam Safety Bill 2019: aims to deal with the risks of ageing dams, with the help of a comprehensive federal institutional framework for dam safety at national and state levels.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): The latest centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to pumping finances into achieving universal access to safe and secure drinking water in rural areas (in states’ domain).
  • JJM involves large-scale intergovernmental transfers to states of Rs 3.6 lakh crore (Centre and states together) over the next five years. (perhaps the largest of all schemes!)
• National Projects: which pushes for Centre-state coordination are Ganga river rejuvenation, inland navigation and inter-basin transfers.

Issues with Water Governance in India: which require more Centre-State coordination

• Rapidly emerging challenges: Concerns of long-term national water security and sustainability, the risks of climate change, and the growing environmental challenges, including river pollution.
• Risk of federal water governance gaps: While the water governance comes under states’ domain, but is subject to those of the Union under the Entry 56 inter-state river water governance.
  • The River Boards Act 1956 legislated under the Entry 56 has been in disuse, while no rivers boards have been created by law.
  • Centre’s role is largely limited to resolving inter-state river water disputes. (through tribunals)

Way Forward:

• Institute a federated system: Inter-governmental transfers produce better outcomes when the transfers build on an ex-ante federal consensus.
  • For E.g. Australia has plans towards dialogue with states under its National Water Act of 2007 and to arrive at the Murray- Darling agreement.
• Utilize the scale of JJM: To draw states to deliberate over the reworking of the larger structural contours of federal water governance -
  • Ensure that the states maintain the assets and facilities created through the mission.
  • Engage in a dialogue with the states (to build a credible institutional architecture) for gathering data and managing water resources.