Resolution
of water problems of Marathwada – a political process required
Pradeep
Purandare@
Water experts, lawyers,
retired government officials & media have been doing their best to
highlight the water problems of Marathwada. But their efforts have obvious
limitations. Resolution of water problems is a political issue. It is,
therefore, the responsibility of political parties, peoples’ organisations
& political activists to study & understand the
socio-economic-politico-legal complexities involved, take informed &
considered decisions & frame their own water policies, strategies &
programs. An indicative list of what is required to be done is given below.
1.
Top most priority needs to be given to soil
conservation, river rejuvenation
(and not river deepening & widening), measurement of water &
water audit and development of
resilience towards climate change.
2.
To approach The Inter-state Godavari River
Water Dispute Tribunal afresh & try to get increased share of water for
Maharashtra in general & for Marathwada in particular
3.
To prepare rules of equitable distribution of
water at river-basin level & create an institutional & legal
arrangement to implement those in letter & spirit. The rules should address
only the equitable distribution of available water. It should be left to the
individual projects to decide purpose-wise distribution of water once they get
their just share of water
4.
To strengthen Maharashtra Water Resources
Regulatory Authority.
5.
To implement Integrated State Water Plan
6.
To complete the operative part of Irrigation
Acts (i.e. Rules, Notifications, Agreements, etc) & implement the same
7.
To convert Irrigation Development Corporations
into River Basin Authorities
8.
To promote water users’ associations &
dissolve Canal Advisory Committees
9.
To bring Lift Irrigation under the purview of
Irrigation Acts. At present, it is completely un-regulated
10. To transfer Water & Land Management Institute
(WALMI), Aurangabad back to Water Resources Department & revamp the
Institute
11. To
fully operationalise the Water Conservation Commissionerate from its
headquarter at Aurangabad
12. To
carry out adequate maintenance & repairs of completed irrigation projects
& efficiently operate & manage them on the principles of eight-monthly
irrigation
13. To
complete the on-going irrigation projects at the earliest
14. To
carry out the rehabilitation & modernisation of old irrigation projects
15. To
file a review petition in Supreme Court regarding Babhali bandhara
16. To
cancel the reservation of water for non-irrigation purposes done from Mukane, Waki,
Bham & Bhavali projects
17. To
give water directly to Nandur-Madhmeshwar through a pipeline from Mukane, Waki,
Bham & Bhavali projects
18. To
file a review petition in High Court to quash the un-just & discriminatory
pre-condition of the delineation of Jayakwadi Project
19. To
ensure not only 7 TMC but complete 25 TMC water to Krishna-Marathwada project
in Beed & Osmanabad districts
20. To
execute legal agreements to ensure that the water from long distance water
transfer projects would really reach Marathwada.
@ Former Associate
Professor, WALMI, Aurangabad, Former Member of (1) Drafting Committee for MMISF Act 2005 & Rules 2006 (2)
Marathwada (Statutory) Development Board, (3) Committee for Integrated State
Water Plan and Presently Member, Flood Study Committee
