Two countries in the Indian Ocean region have recently announced water management initiatives. In Australia the Murray Darling Basin Authority has published a discussion paper on water flows in the Murray Darling Rivers system, proposing to reduce permanently the amount of water irrigators can draw from the rivers. Limits have already been in place for many years because of the persistent drought, with an overall drop in economic activity of only 1%. However the farmers and local communities have declared the end of life as they know it, economic ruin and all the other shibboleths so beloved of vested interests.
India is formulating a revised National Water Policy in consultation with the States and other stakeholders to ensure basin-level management strategies. This would deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change.
The Government is also looking at amendment to the Inter-State Water Disputes Act and the River Boards Act for time-bound clarificatory/supplementary orders of tribunals on inter-State water disputes and for setting up an Inter-State River Basin Authority for overall coordination of watershed agencies under inter-State basins. The revised policy will take on board crucial issues such as water demand management, equitable distribution, water pricing, stringent regulatory mechanism and allocating priority to water for life-support and ecology over industry. Needless to say, the industry is opposing the last priority it might be allocated. There is a push to make water budgeting and water auditing mandatory. There is a suggestion to introduce tradable water entitlements for farmers but there is no agreement on it.
The Government is also looking at amendment to the Inter-State Water Disputes Act and the River Boards Act for time-bound clarificatory/supplementary orders of tribunals on inter-State water disputes and for setting up an Inter-State River Basin Authority for overall coordination of watershed agencies under inter-State basins. The revised policy will take on board crucial issues such as water demand management, equitable distribution, water pricing, stringent regulatory mechanism and allocating priority to water for life-support and ecology over industry. Needless to say, the industry is opposing the last priority it might be allocated. There is a push to make water budgeting and water auditing mandatory. There is a suggestion to introduce tradable water entitlements for farmers but there is no agreement on it.
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