State policies in the context of the state/ national/ and international development goals.

In particular reference to water, however, the draft state water policies (1995 and 2005) continue to alienate communities’ traditional rights on water use and management including the traditional wisdom and knowledge. Rajasthan Government needs to spare a thought about UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to which Govt. of India is committed to attain by 2105. In the context of the MDGs, goal no 7 “ Ensure environmental sustainability” aiming at integrating the principles of sustainable development, reducing by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and achieving significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020 remains a far cry. India is not on track achieving the MDGs by 2015 including the goal 7. Moreover, State Development Goals or 6 priorities as envisioned in Vision document of the Rajasthan Government (as given below) do not explicitly make a mention or seek to address the UN MDGs, in particular, goal 7 related to water.
1. Freedom from poverty, malnutrition and hunger.
2. Empowerment of women and weaker section of the society.
3. Human Resource development and increased infrastructure development in the social development sector.
4. Employment generation
5. Good governance and fiscal reforms
6. Development of Economic Infrastructure services.

We urge that the Draft Water Policy 2005 make an attempt to address the UN MDGs and bring the focus on water w.r.t state development goals/priorities. This has also to be seen and addressed in the context of the National Development Goals as set out in the 10th Five year plan (2002-2007) and subsequent five year plans. The policies as a matter of fact should have goal/targets as well as indicators, which could be monitored (independently) against a set time period. A starting point in defining above said could be “Rajasthan Water Vision 2015” which corresponds to UN MDGs (at least in terms of time frame) as suggested by Report of the “Expert Committee on Integrated Development of Water Resources” 2005.

1 Sectoral policies related to water use.

Analysis of various sectoral policies relating to water use in various sectors namely irrigation, mining, agriculture, excise, industry, etc. is needed to bring about harmony in water use and management. This has to be categorically stated in the water policy since various sectoral policies often has contradictory clauses with other sector policy. For instance, Excise policy promoting liquor and beverages units in dark zones, mining, tourism and other sectors policies promoting extractive and non- extractive industries/uses of water.

As far as urban development, land use changes and location of industries are concerned; degraded areas need to be considered for such projects instead of developed area. Agriculture land and watersheds which have been treated (partially/fully) should not be put to other land uses.

Water balance needs to be factored into water audits in industries and other water abstractive units in a particular area.

2 Water use, conservation and management to maintain ecosystem functions especially the wetlands (man made and natural):

Though the draft policy takes note of water conservation and efficiency of utilization, the focus needs to be sharply brought on to the equilibrium between the allocation and use (irrigation, drinking water supply, recreational), etc. of water in wetlands for maintaining the integrity of natural ecosystem functioning for survival of flora and fauna especially in locally and internationally renowned wetlands and threatened wildlife for instance Siberian crane in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, (a Ramsar site as well as a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site), Demoiselle crane in Kheenchan, etc.

3 Institutional mechanisms to address disputes and conflicts relating to water use, share and allocation:
A tribunal is needed to speedily address situation arising out of water share (with in state and interstate). This is of paramount importance considering the nature of conflicts that Rajasthan has seen in last couple of years, for instance release of water from Panchna dam to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur and agitation of farmers (and consequent deaths) for demanding share of water from various water sector projects and schemes. The inability to address/solve disputes/conflicts is often made out to be a thing of skewed priorities and politics rather than as viewed objectively. The way these situations were handled brought disgrace to Rajasthan both nationally and internationally, with government coming under sharp criticism in terms of gross human rights violation and inability to honor India’s commitment in international conventions/agreements.