I am reproducing below a rejoinder by BN Navalawala, former secretary to the Government of India, to my article (December 5, 2018), "Modi govt 'shelves' water reforms report, shows 'no interest' in its recommendations", where I quote Dr Mihir Shah, former member, Planning Commission:
A committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mihir Shah, Former Member, Planning Commission, for restructuring of Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for optimal development of water resources in the country in the backdrop of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).***
The committee has proposed for the formation of National Water Commission by merging two of the organizations namely, CWC and entral Water Commission and CGWB.
Curiously enough, neither serving nor retired chairmen from CWC and CGWB were included in the Committee, which was mandated to consider and suggest measures for the merger of these two organizations, although the committee was empowered to co-opt additional experts, as required with the purpose of bridging the knowledge gap in this whole exercise.
Principles of surface water management and ground water management are significantly different and distinct. Surface water can be planned and managed basin-wise whereas ground water is managed through aquifers which are interconnected but not necessarily exacting/matching to the river basin boundaries.
Therefore, super-speciality of both the subjects need thorough scientific know-how of these two exclusive domains and, hence, the functioning of the two super-speciality domains require exclusive work setup, work culture and interaction platform. So, CWC and CGWB are to function as two entities.
In the given situation, what is needed is to focus on institutionalization of interaction (in the form of symbiotic relationship) of the two activities rather than merging the two, lest the latter might mess-up the entire gamut of accomplishment and activity set up which is really a valuable asset for the nation.
In this context, I would like to mention that during my tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, this very aspect was seriously considered by the Ministry and, thereupon, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) at Hyderabad and Indian Institue of Management (IIM)-Ahmadabad were appointed as consultants for assessing the needs of restructuring of CWC and CGWB respectively in the year 2001.
Curiously enough, neither serving nor retired chairmen from CWC and CGWB were included in the Committee, which was mandated to consider and suggest measures for the merger of these two organizations, although the committee was empowered to co-opt additional experts, as required with the purpose of bridging the knowledge gap in this whole exercise.
Principles of surface water management and ground water management are significantly different and distinct. Surface water can be planned and managed basin-wise whereas ground water is managed through aquifers which are interconnected but not necessarily exacting/matching to the river basin boundaries.
Therefore, super-speciality of both the subjects need thorough scientific know-how of these two exclusive domains and, hence, the functioning of the two super-speciality domains require exclusive work setup, work culture and interaction platform. So, CWC and CGWB are to function as two entities.
In the given situation, what is needed is to focus on institutionalization of interaction (in the form of symbiotic relationship) of the two activities rather than merging the two, lest the latter might mess-up the entire gamut of accomplishment and activity set up which is really a valuable asset for the nation.
In this context, I would like to mention that during my tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, this very aspect was seriously considered by the Ministry and, thereupon, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) at Hyderabad and Indian Institue of Management (IIM)-Ahmadabad were appointed as consultants for assessing the needs of restructuring of CWC and CGWB respectively in the year 2001.
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| BN Navalawala |
The ASCI submitted its Draft report in October 2002 and Final report in July 2007. Again, the ASCI submitted the "amended and corrected" report (presumably after discussions/ interactions with the Ministry) in May, 2010.
Subsequently, a proposal for restructuring of CWC was prepared in the light of recommendations of various studies/ committees and keeping in view the shared vision of CWC/Ministry for the sector. The views of States and Central Ministries were also obtained on the restructuring proposal which were, in general, favourable. The Ministry also got the report examined by appointing a consultant (M Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General Honoraire, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage).
The consultant reviewed the proposal and recommended for its further consideration of Ministry after duly incorporating some suggestions made by him. The said proposal was, in principle, approved by the then Hon’ble Minster (Water Resources) and submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)/ Ministry of Finance (FoM) for further consideration in 2012.
The proposal, as considered in detail and then processed by the Ministry, addresses all the concerns and the challenges of water sector as suggested by Dr Mihir Shah Committee in their report.
In this context, one needs to understand the functioning of CWC. One of the core functions/ responsibilities of CWC is to act as a neutral referee in all matters related to inter-State issues. It has the unique institutional memory as a result of multi-disciplinary and multi-layered process of project appraisal and project monitoring, right from the stage of inception of projects over the last six decades.
The CWC provides a strong institutional mechanism to the Government of India in fulfilling its obligations under Entry (56) of List-I and Article (242) of the Constitution. Similar situation prevails when dealing with international issues. International river basins involve a special kind of management issues, handling of which would need not only the super-speciality in hydrology and water management but also scrupulous planning for strategic aspects so as to enable the country to successfully meet with intricate challenges which are in the offing, looking to the present stance of the neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan and Nepal.
India needs strategic storage projects in Brahmaputra basin like Siang for combating floods as well as in view of water diversion plans of China and for Indus river vis-Ã -vis neighbouring country Pakistan. The creation of storages in Nepal on river Mahakali and Sapt Kosi and Sun Kosi is also needed for ensuring flood protection in UP and Bihar.
The interlinking of rivers (ILR) in the country is a flagship programme of the Ministry. As on this date, as many as eleven ILR projects with international aspects and ramifications have been identified for implementation. Also, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment in February 2012 has held that ILR programme is in national interest and has further directed the Union Govt. for its expeditious implementation.
The ILR project is not only "mammoth" in size but also technically a very complex and challenging for which the need to have a strong technical organization like CWC is inescapable.
Subsequently, a proposal for restructuring of CWC was prepared in the light of recommendations of various studies/ committees and keeping in view the shared vision of CWC/Ministry for the sector. The views of States and Central Ministries were also obtained on the restructuring proposal which were, in general, favourable. The Ministry also got the report examined by appointing a consultant (M Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General Honoraire, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage).
The consultant reviewed the proposal and recommended for its further consideration of Ministry after duly incorporating some suggestions made by him. The said proposal was, in principle, approved by the then Hon’ble Minster (Water Resources) and submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)/ Ministry of Finance (FoM) for further consideration in 2012.
The proposal, as considered in detail and then processed by the Ministry, addresses all the concerns and the challenges of water sector as suggested by Dr Mihir Shah Committee in their report.
In this context, one needs to understand the functioning of CWC. One of the core functions/ responsibilities of CWC is to act as a neutral referee in all matters related to inter-State issues. It has the unique institutional memory as a result of multi-disciplinary and multi-layered process of project appraisal and project monitoring, right from the stage of inception of projects over the last six decades.
The CWC provides a strong institutional mechanism to the Government of India in fulfilling its obligations under Entry (56) of List-I and Article (242) of the Constitution. Similar situation prevails when dealing with international issues. International river basins involve a special kind of management issues, handling of which would need not only the super-speciality in hydrology and water management but also scrupulous planning for strategic aspects so as to enable the country to successfully meet with intricate challenges which are in the offing, looking to the present stance of the neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan and Nepal.
India needs strategic storage projects in Brahmaputra basin like Siang for combating floods as well as in view of water diversion plans of China and for Indus river vis-Ã -vis neighbouring country Pakistan. The creation of storages in Nepal on river Mahakali and Sapt Kosi and Sun Kosi is also needed for ensuring flood protection in UP and Bihar.
The interlinking of rivers (ILR) in the country is a flagship programme of the Ministry. As on this date, as many as eleven ILR projects with international aspects and ramifications have been identified for implementation. Also, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment in February 2012 has held that ILR programme is in national interest and has further directed the Union Govt. for its expeditious implementation.
The ILR project is not only "mammoth" in size but also technically a very complex and challenging for which the need to have a strong technical organization like CWC is inescapable.
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