Review of National Water Policy
The Government of India’s National Water Policy (NWP) in 2012 was the third within 25 years, first being in 1987 and the second in 2002. The NWP essentially states that water is an economic good or commercial commodity; and allows for its pricing, and sale by private-public partnerships, private or public bodies. The most conspicuously absent policy statement is the provision for a national programme for the conservation and management of the water resources in the country in totality and, an effective administrative structure to implement this.
SAF organised a meeting of concerned citizens and organisations to discuss the NWP and come up with reviews/comments. These were circulated amongst a group of interested citizens and experts, and the review of the National Water Policy was drafted. This was submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources in 2012.