WRC brings out draft Nagaland Water Policy and asks for feedbacks
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 27
The Water Resource Committee, Government of Nagaland has brought out a draft Nagaland Water Policy to address existing and future needs encompassing a long term water resource management programme for Nagaland state.
The draft policy has been produced by the Water Resource Policy, Government of Nagaland, with support from the Climate Change Adaptation-North Eastern Region (CCA-NER) project of the German Development Co-operation (GIZ). Agriculture Production Commissioner & Convenor, Water Resource Committee, T. Imkonglemba Ao informed that the draft is available online for public viewing and appealed for the public, concerned NGOs/CBOs and academicians of Nagaland to study the draft and give their feedback for making the policy document a “meaningful one.”
The draft outlined the various water related concerns and challenges brought about by fragmented water management through a variety of institutions at the state level with overlapping mandates. These challenges, it stated, need immediate attention.
The objective of the policy, it stated is to create an “integrated vision, policy and institutional framework,” that takes cognizance of the existing water scenario in the state and outline policy initiatives that improve water resource planning and management in the state.
A six pronged strategy
It brought out a six pronged strategy to address concerns, challenges and ensure water security for the people of the state. This includes giving a broad and uniform policy direction to all state water management institutions for creating an enabling environment and achieving policy objectives, especially equitable and sustainable water resource management.
Second, the draft said that the state aims to restructure the roles and relationship between institutions involved in water resources management to improve their co-ordination and harmonize operations. This is also aimed at strengthening and empowering local as well as state level institutions towards achieving their full participation in water resource management.
Thirdly, to ensure basin level planning, the state is asked to create an institutional structure at the basin level or rework existing institutional arrangements to create basin level institutional regime that will coordinate with village level institutions on integrated water management.
Further the draft policy proposes that the state prioritize enhancing scientific planning, adaptation measures and organized ground level implementation. In addition the state also has the responsibility to ensure that water and land use planning is synergized with the unique agricultural context of Nagaland. Any policy development, the draft said, has to take view of capacity enhancement for land use planning as a necessary measure.
And finally, the state will enact a comprehensive state water law (Acts, Rules and Regulations) and enabling rules to give effect to the above mentioned strategies in a time bound manner. The intended water legislation, it stated, will aim at complementing the role of village councils in managing land and water resources in the state.
Implementation roadmap
Outlining the implementation roadmap of the policy, it proposed tapping village level governance for water management and conservation. It called for involvement of village councils to be involved in various aspects of planning, design, development and management aspects.
It suggested implementation of a ‘polluter pays principle,’ where water users associations will monitor water bodies and penalties are imposed on polluters as per the village council decision based on customary sanction or decision taken by an assembly of the people affected.
In this regard, the draft called for negotiations, mediation and conciliation within the existing customary justice dispensation mechanism to be used for settlement of water related disputes. A village level conflict resolution mechanism, it stated would resolve, prevent and minimize the possibility of any conflict arising between or among different users.
Meanwhile, it also outlined community monitoring and performance audit of water resource projects. The draft proposed private sector participation primarily in urban water supply sector. However, it cautioned that such private sector investment should be open to public scrutiny based on transparency, accountability and clearance by village level institutions whose water resources are sourced.
It also called for training of stakeholders and volunteers to asses water and soil condition in the villages and report to designated river basin agencies, while emphasizing on capacity building for technological interventions at the village level.
Regarding, financing of projects and service charges, the draft called for the state water law to provide a clear legal and administrative roadmap, with the State Finance Commission empowered to fix tariffs for different uses of water. It then said that a comprehensive flood management and river zoning strategy will be formulated in coordination with state and national disaster management authority.
The draft also called for the creation of water reserves, comprising of basic human needs reserve and ecological reserve. The reservation of water for these two components, it stated, would be granted precedence in water allocation and abstraction. This is to be done, in consultation with village level institutions.
Further, it proposed that a Nagaland State Water Resources Council be set up, headed by the Chief Minister. The draft then called for looking at water resources from a regional interdependence prism and trans-boundary water cooperation. This, it stated would be beneficial especially in the unique context of the NE region where water resources of all six states are shared water resources.
It was further informed that the final state water policy, when implemented, would be revised every ten years or earlier depending on the changes observed in the state water scenario by the stakeholder communities and agencies. The draft is available for public viewing at www.phedngl.nic.in; www.agricoop.nic.in and www.nagaland.gov.in/portal/stateportal/NotificationsAndAlerts/CirculationNotifications.
‘General Principles of Nagaland State Water Policy’
• Recognizing the fundamental right to water for drinking, sanitation and domestic use
• Principle of equity and social justice and sustainable utilization
• Joint public trusteeship of water resources
• Recognition of community right to water resources
• Integrated planning
• Village ecosystem governance
• Transparency, accountability and good governance
• Coherent framework for water and land use planning
• Restoration and rejuvenation of water ecosystems
• Protecting river basins and sub basins
