The Shared Water Vision of the People and the Government of Andhra Pradesh Vision withot action is a daydream Action withot vision is a nightmare Japa

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1 Water is fndamental to the development of Andhra Pradesh In fact, the ambitions set ot in the Andhra Pradesh Vision 2020 are closely linked to the efficient tilization of this key resorce On the other hand, the ftre development of the State will also significantly impact the way that water is being managed today Andhra Pradesh is already a water-scarce State And the increase in poplation, and the development of indstries and other economic sectors, will only make for a greater stress on the water sector The water challenges for the State are therefore manifold improving and safegarding the existing drinking water spplies, managing the water demand in agricltre, determining environmental reqirements and prevention of polltion Exective smmary AP Water Vision The Andhra Pradesh Water Vision describes the water ftre of Andhra Pradesh It describes where the State and its people wold like to be in 2025 and the challenges that we have to overcome to get there The Andhra Pradesh Water Vision is based on consltations in all districts and with important stakeholders at State level This Water Vision is a shared vision It reflects the opinions and concerns not only of the varios Government Departments faced with the danting task of managing an increasingly scarce resorce, bt also of the millions of common rral and rban water sers whose everyday lives depend on this vital and precios commodity The Shared Water Vision is spported by a Water Sector Overview, which reveals the stats of water resorces in the State today, and a Strategic Framework for Action, which identifies the priority initiatives that are reqired to pt the Water Vision into practice This United Nations report presented to the international commnity at the third World Water Form, held in Kyoto, Japan, in March this year, clearly states: Of all the social and national crises we face today, the water crisis is the one that lies at the heart of or srvival, and that of or planet Earth EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

2 The Shared Water Vision of the People and the Government of Andhra Pradesh Vision withot action is a daydream Action withot vision is a nightmare Japanese proverb Clean, hygienic, accessible, affordable and secre drinking water spplies for the entire poplation Sstainable levels of water extraction from rivers, tanks and grondwater withot jeopardizing their ftre se or vital ecosystem fnctions Conservation of rainwater and its efficient se for agricltre, plantations, livestock and grondwater recharge An efficient, well-managed and sstainable irrigated agricltre sector enhancing vale and ensring farming livelihoods, bt also avoiding wastefl se of water Of great importance is the efficient se of water in agricltre maximizing the retrn on water and the social benefits of efficient water-se Mitigation of the effects of droghts, with short-term emergency responses and long-term planning Prevention of the polltion of water resorces sed by people and livestock, agricltre and indstry Integrated governance of water reflected by effective legislation, efficient Government services that work in a coordinated manner, sond water information and data sets, adeqate monitoring and applied research so that we know where we are and what options are available to s Participatory water management throgh effective instittional arrangements Greater concern for water management at every level individal, commnity, and Government Special emphasis on the participation of women and landless persons in decision-making 2 AP WATER VISION VOLUME I A SHARED WATER VISION

3 Water sector overview Grondwater, and local and inter-state rivers constitte the available water resorces of Andhra Pradesh Together, these sorces represent a total of abot 108 billion cbic metres (bcm) of water, bt the sable amont is not more than 78 bcm Frther withdrawals are constrained by high costs and serios environmental concerns The present trends in water se and the projected ftre water demands reveal a distrbing ftre scenario While the present total se is abot 62 3 bcm, the water se by 2025 is expected to toch 113 bcm, assming the following sectoral distribtion: Drinking water 3 5 bcm Irrigation bcm Indstry 1 4 bcm Power generation 0 1 bcm In other words, by the year 2025, Andhra Pradesh s water resorce demands will have met and even exceeded the available spplies Besides, there is particlar concern on another front: abot 36% of rral habitations and 72% of rban bodies still do not have adeqate drinking water facilities Clearly, access to clean water is vital to pblic health, and will take priority in the Vision In a bsiness-as-sal scenario, Andhra Pradesh will reach its limits of water se within the foreseeable ftre The eqation is even more distrbing, as it does not take into accont variations within the State, nor the recrrence of droght It also does not take into accont the need to maintain minimm flows in rivers, which are reqired to sstain fisheries and maintain the cleaning capacity of water Above all, what is reqired is a coordinated cross-sectoral approach to water management to make reglation and water management by commnities and by the State more effective Moreover, thogh water qality in the State is at present reasonable-to-good, it is rapidly deteriorating particlarly in areas where srface water is intensively sed by rban poplations and indstries The water sector overview therefore throws p a nmber of challenges And a concerted and committed effort will be reqired to address them effectively The water challenges The water needs for drinking and domestic se are a relatively insignificant load on the available resorces, bt the availability or qality of drinking water is often jeopardized by overse or polltion in other sectors The demands for mnicipal and indstrial needs are on the increase, and these will have to be met from the present allocation to the agricltre sector Agricltre is by far the largest water consmer in Andhra Pradesh More efficient se of water in agricltre is therefore a top priority Eqally important, the harvesting and efficient se of rainfall is necessary to agment and retain an adeqate freshwater resorce base Rapid contamination of water spplies de to increasing mnicipal, indstrial and other ses (inclding aqacltre) is redcing the amont of already scarce good-qality water spplies Proactive measres are therefore a priority to control or contain sch polltion threats EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

4 Water actions are therefore rgently reqired in many critical areas improving the efficiency of irrigation water se, and removing the incentives that encorage wastefl water se (with special attention to rice, which is a high-water-reqirement crop); protecting drinking water sorces; preventing water polltion; controlling waterlogging and soil salinity; redcing the over-exploitation of grondwater; stopping the deterioration of water qality in rivers and in coastal areas; improving the se of rainfall for agricltre; protecting the water bodies in rban areas, and improving the management of small tanks in rral areas Strategic framework for action Implementing the Water Vision is the challenge that Andhra Pradesh confronts today The sstainable development of water resorces in the State will depend on for key activities: Secring drinking water demands in terms of qantity and qality Development of water planning, river basin management and prioritization for sstainable water extraction Water resorces development with respect to other State priorities in Vision 2020 The development of an efficient and well-managed water sector This approach to sstainable development reqires a significant change in governance, involving policy development, organizational reform, se of economic measres, strengthening of legal frameworks and development of monitoring and reglation procedres This approach needs to be spplemented with research and development, and capacity bilding (Government and commnity) throgh edcation and training These for activities and the approach to sstainable development are discssed frther in Volme I of the Water Vision docment The following discssion presents a Strategic Framework for Action, detailing the initiatives reqired and a time frame for action Central to IWRM (Integrated Water Resorces Management) is the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resorces to maximize social development and economic growth while safegarding important ecological vales IWRM integrated water resorces management is the preferred approach to water management However, to make IWRM a grond reality reqires a range of inpts: State-level policy decisions Initiatives at the district level Legal and instittional frameworks Capacity bilding, research and development Engaging wider society 4 AP WATER VISION VOLUME I A SHARED WATER VISION

5 State-level policy decisions At State level, there is a need to develop a coordinated approach to gide water development and management: Adoption of a nified strategy for the water resorces sector at the State Cabinet level in order to define an entirely new Government approach to water Development of water policies that wold address gender isses and the poor sections of society Reorganization of departmental fnctions and strategies according to the approved Government approach to water management Restrctring and consolidation of the fnctions of water-related departments in order to increase coordination and to avoid dplication, overlaps or gaps in activities Promotion of and participation in inter-state cooperation in water management Development of a droght policy, and short- and long-term droght mitigation programmes Harmonization of water, sanitation and health programmes across Government agencies Completion of ongoing irrigation projects, while at the same time, reconsidering and reassessing planned irrigation projects in the light of balancing the longterm water reqirements (for agricltre, environmental services, and mnicipal and indstrial needs) and the availability of water Preferred approach sing IWRM Managing all available water and determining sstainable limits of se Using stakeholder participation at all levels of decision-making Reorienting Government services to deliver coordinated action at district and village levels Moving water to its most efficient se Developing water policy and a State IWRM Plan Facilitating resorces for R&D Improving water information in order to achieve effective water management Intensification of watershed development programmes by establishing a reglar department, and strengthening of the Rral Development Department throgh a permanent cadre of technical personnel Harmonization of the water pricing policies on canal water and on power tariffs for grondwater extraction, sch that they maximize economic vale, discorage wastefl se, and generate sfficient resorces to maintain these basic facilities In essence, this translated into a gradal redction in the existing sbsidies Ensre adeqate water availability to the economically weaker sections of the society by special provisions The State-level departments and organizations are key actors in improving water management in Andhra Pradesh They can prepare their own action plans within twelve months to achieve the goals of the Andhra Pradesh Water Vision At a State level, there is the need to strengthen existing training instittions in IWRM Departments and NGOs shold develop their own strategies to work together with commnity grops and local organizations so as to strengthen their capacity to manage water resorces Ptting the Andhra Pradesh Water Vision into practice will reqire not only sfficient financing bt also sond financing principles Pblic fnds are to be sed for strategic fields sch as water resorce protection and services to the poor Pblic fnding shold be steered away from general sbsidies and investments, which can be handled by private or commnity action A climate shold be developed where sefl private and commercial investments are promoted EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

6 Initiatives at district level Within the context of a State-wide Integrated Water Resorces Management Plan, a range of actions will be reqired in each of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh These have been first explored as part of the development of this Vision Districts have specific problems and priorities that are niqe to each district A sample set of priorities for Gntr District is given below The complete overview of priority district actions is given in Strategic framework for water management elsewhere in this Volme I Gntr District s priority Water Vision programmes Vision Project Project elements Safe and good Drinking water Upgrade drinking water facilities spported by a pblic qality drinking project awareness programme water Redce waste polltion on water bodies from agricltral and domestic sorces Improve management of grondwater with recharge measres, technical gidance and reglations Improved water Irrigation Initiate an integrated project incorporating 1) on-farm se efficiency efficiency conjnctive se techniqes, 2) desilting of tanks, and eqity project 3) installation of conservation strctres, 4) recycling of wastewater, 5) se of warabandi (rotational irrigation), 6) retention of a minimm nmber of borewells, 7) adoption of irrigated dry crops and cropping practices based on water bdgeting Implement techniqes to save water according to the needs of all farmers and people Water resorce planning shold be ndertaken at the district level so as to bring it in tne with regional resorce planning For priority river basins (where water stress is high or major developments are planned), river basin plans shold be prepared with specific district action plans Similarly, local grondwater plans shold be developed in tne with broader-scale grondwater management strategies The different platforms in particlar the Water Conservation and Utilization Committees and district organizations shold be strengthened in this respect and given specific roles Finally, improved networking with private individals, NGOs, local Governments and other instittions is extremely important Legal and instittional frameworks Given the importance of water management for the development of Andhra Pradesh, it is crcial that water policy and water resorces management are coordinated and promoted from a central point, reporting directly to the State Cabinet The Government of Andhra Pradesh has already formed a Water Conservation Mission to focs on water conservation and management isses The Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Athority was constitted nder the A P Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002 These two entities will reglate the se of water resorces and coordinate with the water-related departments 6 AP WATER VISION VOLUME I A SHARED WATER VISION

7 As recommended above, a trly effective coordination of all water-related programmes and policies can only be achieved throgh a central body Sch an entity cold be formed by enhancing the crrent Water Conservation Mission, and developing it into a comprehensive Andhra Pradesh Water Mission This Water Mission wold comprise secretaries and heads of all water-related departments, representatives from indstry associations, NGOs, water associations and leading water champions/ individals The Water Mission shold be located within the proposed Department of Water Resorces There is the opportnity to create an instittional entity where top down meets bottom p a new Andhra Pradesh Water Mission where local stakeholders can talk with the highest levels of Government In addition to the Water Mission, the existing Department of Irrigation and Command Area Development cold be reoriented to play a nodal role in the overall water resorces development and demand management for the agricltre sector, which is the largest consmer This wold, in fact, be congrent with the Central Government initiatives to establish a Department of Water Resorces in each state of India The basis for adeqate water management has been laid with the enactment of a nmber of important laws in Andhra Pradesh, in particlar the A P Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Act (1997), the A P Water, Land and Trees Act (2002), and the Polltion Control Act What is reqired now is the effective implementation of the legal provisions contained in these Acts by bilding p the enforcement mechanisms, training in the se of these laws, and legal edcation and promotion Capacity bilding, research and development In order to effectively implement IWRM, water managers mst develop an nderstanding of the concept of IWRM, its technical reqirements, its potential benefits, and an awareness abot how best to pt it into practice In addition, water managers need to acqire the necessary skills to apply specific (often sectoral) management tools, to reform reglations, to strengthen need-based financing systems, etc There is a need to commence a State-wide leadership capacity bilding programme in IWRM The target adience wold be leading water managers in the pblic sector, indstry associations, local Government departments, NGOs and the private sector Departments can enhance their competence at all levels throgh capacity bilding programmes, as integrated water resorce management reqires new skills: the ability to think in a mltidisciplinary manner, and operate in partnership and consltation with other players Reorienting water management Reorienting water management services reqires: Eqitable and niversal distribtion Intersectoral cooperation (water, health, sanitation, family planning, literacy) Training and capacity bilding of all stakeholders at all levels Participation of all stakeholders (district level, Government departments, indstries, NGOs and individals) Appropriate technology (local innovations sited to the water ser) At the local level, there is a need to identify and pilot-test improved and efficient practices, assemble traditional best practices, and train the trainers This shold form part of the priority Water Vision actions for each district At this level, it is eqally important and essential to address the qestion of gender isses (the role of women in water management) and to ensre that women have greater access to decisionmaking processes A programme to address these isses wold greatly facilitate the achievement of these goals There is also a significant need to ndertake applied and practical research in the priority fields of water management so as to resolve critical problems and consolidate Andhra Pradesh s front-rnner position in water management in India The establishment of an interdisciplinary Water Research Programme wold help flfil this need EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7

8 The efficacy of local involvement increases greatly, when it is strctred systematically and does not depend on one-offs Engaging wider society Widespread involvement of commnities and individals is essential to translate the Water Vision into reality Several local organizations are in place, bt coordinated action is reqired for local planning and management of water resorces: Water Users Associations (WUAs) formed nder the A P Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Act need to be strengthened, particlarly with respect to water resorce management, ths encoraging them to move into this field Watershed Associations or Committees are sally formed in the corse of watershed development projects In addition to their role in the maintenance of water harvesting strctres, their thrst shold be on water management in general They shold promote water-efficient cropping patterns, increase the se of water conservation measres and practise water adits at village level to meet the demands of varios sectors Water Conservation and Utilization Committees are formed at varios levels from the Gram Panchayat level to the district level These platforms can be strengthened to bild common agreement and initiate local water actions Their roles shold be clarified with respect to the role of watershed committees and Water Users Associations in order to establish more effective coordination Appropriate health delivery at the local level is dependent on clean and secre water spplies, and is linked to literacy These programmes shold be strengthened by harmonizing local health delivery services with programmes in water spply and sanitation improvement, family planning and literacy There are other village-level grops women s grops and self-help grops which can also integrate with water management initiatives The private sector is expected to play a major role in the flfilment of the ambitions of the Andhra Pradesh Water Vision Besides Government departments and local organizations, varios other grops, sch as the private sector, cold be engaged in water management The private sector has a potentially major role in the Andhra Pradesh Water Vision for instance, throgh investment in water treatment and spply infrastrctre, promotion of water conservation measres, promotion of water-efficient crop based agro-indstry, etc Mch can be achieved in water conservation and water qality improvement by bilding awareness of the need to conserve this precios resorce A comprehensive campaign, sing the latest information technologies and training schools on water literacy, wold help bild both awareness and capacity for the jdicios se of water A pblic edcation programme abot the importance of water and its jdicios se is also recommended Promoting leadership among women will go a long way in bringing abot a more considered view of the need to conserve water, as well as family-oriented ownership of the Water Vision 8 AP WATER VISION VOLUME I A SHARED WATER VISION

9 Short-term recommendations (next 12 months) These priority actions are sggested as the first implementation options to enact the Water Vision and to strengthen the approach smmarized in the Water Vision statements in the initial paragraphs above Action 1 Reconstitte the existing Water Conservation Mission as the Andhra Pradesh Water Mission, as an entity assigned with coordination fnctions The specific roles, responsibilities, reporting mechanisms and composition need to be determined There are three possible options regarding the location of the Water Mission: 1 As an independent entity, reporting to the State Cabinet The Andhra Pradesh Water Vision is only a starting point The challenge for the people of Andhra Pradesh is now to gear p for action to bild a secre water ftre This can only be done by the willingness and commitment of people in water organizations from local areas to those in the highest levels of the Government We have a shared Water Vision now let s have shared action! 2 3 As an entity within the proposed Department of Water Resorces (presently the Irrigation and Command Area Development Department) reporting directly to a natral resorces sb-committee of the Cabinet or nder the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary As an entity within the Panchayat Raj and Rral Development Department, reporting directly to a natral resorces sb-committee of the Cabinet or nder the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Action 2 Develop a State-wide Water Vision Action Plan, focsing on two levels of action: policy level and district level Special attention shold be given to droght mitigation, water polltion abatement, a water management awareness programme, enhancement of the role of women in decision-making, water policy development and local integration of water programmes Action 3 Initiate several District Pilot Projects, which wold demonstrate the Water Vision in action An immediate State-wide prioritization of these district actions cold be ndertaken sing the reslts of the district consltations in this Water Vision and in view of the need to address crrent droght and drinking water concerns (inclding florosis) Action 4 Establish a monitoring, evalation and reporting procedre to assess the implementation of this Water Vision, reporting directly to the Chief Minister throgh the proposed Andhra Pradesh Water Mission The Water Mission shold also provide a channel for reporting by non-governmental organizations and individals and the general pblic EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9

10 Long-term recommendations (1 to 3 years) Action 5 As part of the Action Plan, develop a State Water Policy, an Integrated Water Resorces Management Plan and River Basin Management Plans, which wold define an integrated approach to water management, and specify corses of action at policy and district levels Action 6 Develop specific District Action Plans within the context of the overall River Basin Management Plans, the Integrated Water Resorces Management Plan and the State Water Policy The District Action Plans wold be developed by local coalitions of District Water Conservation and Utilization Committees, which have membership of Water Users Associations, Water Conservation and Irrigation Associations and Panchayat Raj organizations The District Action Plans wold specify water management and water sharing arrangements, improved best practices for irrigation and watershed development, and integrated approaches to sanitation and health care, literacy and family planning Action 7 Develop an interdisciplinary Water Research Programme within the Water Mission, for research coordination, research fnding and information management This programme wold operate as a scientific and technical committee advising the Water Mission The focs will be on implementation research Benefits of implementing the Andhra Pradesh Water Vision The Water Vision otlined above offers the following benefits: A coordinated view of the water resorces and water resorces management in Andhra Pradesh Strengthened participation in decision-making and implementation by all water stakeholders Improved levels of pblic satisfaction with respect to secre water spplies, health and employment Sstainable water development while addressing ecological concerns A strong and efficient water sector 10 AP WATER VISION VOLUME I A SHARED WATER VISION

11 Vision Team Dr. Brce Hooper, Vision Team Leader, and Director, IRMR, Ltd., Brisbane, Astralia. Dr. Frank van Steenbergen, Senior Consltant, Water Management, ARCADIS Eroconslt, The Netherlands. Dr. K.V.G.K. Rao, Water Management Specialist. Dr. V.V.N. Mrthy, Expert in Agricltral Water Use. Mr. Venkat R. Pranam, Expert in Drinking and Indstrial Water Use. Mr. C.M. Mralidharan, Expert in Aqatic Ecology. Dr. P.K. Joshi, Expert in Resorce Economics. Advisory and Administrative Spport Mr. Anil C. Pnetha, Commissioner, Rral Development, and CEO, Water Conservation Mission. Dr. P.S. Rao, Senior Programme Officer, Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi. Dr. Frank van Steenbergen, International Coordinator, Mission Spport Unit (WCM). Mr. M. Padmanabha Reddy, Coordinator, Mission Spport Unit (WCM). Peer Review Dr. Peter Mollinga, Visiting Faclty, Administrative Staff College of India (Wageningen Agricltral University, The Netherlands). Mr. Ian F. Whan, Economist, Rral Management Partners, Brisbane, Astralia. Ms. Jennifer Francis, Gender Specialist, The Netherlands. Dr. Khalid Mohotadllah, International Water Management Institte (IWMI), Sri Lanka. Dr. T. Vengopal, Director, Central Polltion Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi. Mr. C.L.N. Sastry, Former Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Dr. V. Venkateshwarl, Former Coordinator, Environmental Sciences, Osmania University, Hyderabad. Dr. Y.V. Malla Reddy, Rral Development Trst, Anantapr. Dr. K.P.C. Rao, Economist, International Crops Research Institte for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad. Acknowledgements Several Government departments, pblic and private instittions, and individals provided invalable inpt in the preparation of the Vision docment (a detailed list is given in Volme II of the AP Water Vision). Their contribtions are grateflly acknowledged. Special thanks are de to Mr. Sanjay Gpta, Special Commissioner (SC), Rral Development; Mr. A.K. Morya, Special Commissioner (RD), Rral Development; Mr. G. Chandra Sekhar Reddy, ACEO, and other staff of the Water Conservation Mission. District workshops and reports: Action for Food Prodction (AFPRO). Data processing spport: Mr. M. Kiran Kmar. Compter Operator, MSU. Photographs/illstrations cortesy: Fisheries Department; Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Spply and Sewerage Board; Rral Development Department; Water and Land Management Training and Research Institte (WALAMTARI); Chief Engineer, Nagarjnasagar Project; Andhra Pradesh Polltion Control Board (APPCB); Indo-Dtch Project; Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricltral University (ANGRAU), Bapatla; Ramky Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad; Jeedimetla Efflent Treatment Ltd., Hyderabad; Dr. K.V.G.K. Rao; Dr. V.V.N. Mrthy; Dr. M. Padmanabha Reddy; Action for Food Prodction (AFPRO); District Forest Officer, Mahbbnagar; Watershed Spport Services and Activities at Work (WASSAN); Vaartha (newspaper). Maps cortesy: International Crops Research Institte for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); Central Research Institte for Dryland Agricltre (CRIDA); Andhra Pradesh Polltion Control Board (APPCB); Grond Water Department; Irrigation Department; and the web site Cover design Arth Graphics; Editing & pblication design BlePencil Infodesign; Printed at Pragati Offset Ltd., Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

12 Abot the Water Conservation Mission Andhra Pradesh has been facing widespread water scarcity in recent years de to sccessive years of droght. Abot 42% of its lands are either degraded or trning into wastelands. Abot 548 mandals in the State have been identified as stress mandals, as the grondwater levels have fallen deeper than 10 m in these areas. To help reverse this trend, the Government of Andhra Pradesh initiated rainwater harvesting on a major scale and in a campaign mode by lanching the Neer Meer (Water and Yo) Programme on 1 May The Water Conservation Mission (WCM) was also set p to give the reqired impets to water conservation efforts, to converge varios water-related programmes and to coordinate the activities of varios departments engaged in water conservation. Placed nder the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the Mission is gided by a panel of distingished experts and eminent persons. Some of the well-known members, who have done impressive work on water conservation and management with people s participation, are: Sri Anna Saheb Hazare of Ralegaon Siddhi (Maharashtra); Sri Rajendra Singh of Tarn Bharat Sangh (Alwar, Rajasthan); Sri Anil Shah of Development Spport Centre (Ahmedabad, Gjarat); Sri C.H. Hanmantha Rao, Former Member, Planning Commission; and Sri T. Hanmantha Rao, Retired Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Commissioner, Rral Development, is the Chief Exective Officer of the WCM. The Secretariat of the WCM is located within the Rral Development Department. A Technical Committee, headed by Sri T. Hanmantha Rao, has also been constitted to advise the WCM on varios technical aspects of rainwater conservation and management. Objectives Develop a clear vision and strategy at the State level for the conservation and sstainable tilization of water. Prepare a time-bond action plan and take measres to ensre convergence of the plans and programmes of the varios State departments working directly or indirectly for water conservation and tilization. Ensre the promotion of sitable cost-effective and sstainable measres for water conservation and tilization in the State. Initiate pblic debate on important policy isses related to water conservation and sstainable water se and bild consenss for policy reforms related to water and its sstainable tilization. Programme of work Thogh a pblic appeal has been made to encorage the participation of all sections of society in the Neer Meer programme, seven key departments are actively involved in the implementation of a work programme for rainwater harvesting: Rral Development, Forests, Urban Development, Rral Water Spply (Panchayat Raj), Minor irrigation (Panchayat Raj), Endowments and Minor irrigation (Irrigation & Command Area Development). In the last three years, six phases of Neer Meer works have been completed and the VII phase is crrently in progress (dration Jne to December 2003). Achievements of Neer Meer at a glance Total Space created to nmber of harvest rainwater Cost incrred Phase Dration works completed (million cbic metres) (Rs. million) Phase I May to October Phase II November 2000 to April Phase III May to September , ,54.91 Phase IV October to May ,371 4, ,84.68 Phase V Jne to December ,825 3, ,42.25 Phase VI Janary to May ,411 2, ,32.92 Total 3,185,966 12, ,21.14