National Water Policy (Action Plan)

Abstract

The National Water Policy Action Plan, adopted under the National Water Resources Council in 1987, provides a strategic framework for the optimal use and management of India’s water resources. Emphasizing water as a vital national asset, the plan prioritizes investments in agriculture, irrigation, and rural development, allocating 60% of national plan funds to these sectors. Key initiatives include watershed management, promotion of micro-irrigation in arid regions, and regulatory frameworks to control groundwater extraction. The plan also addresses inter-state river disputes through amendments to streamline tribunal processes and proposes the establishment of a National Water Authority for coordinated water governance. Physical and financial targets from 1998-2002 include renovation of 21 million hectares of irrigation land, development of micro-irrigation on 4 lakh hectares, and completion of major irrigation projects. The Action Plan underscores sustainable water management, equitable resource allocation, and public awareness as central to India’s agricultural growth and rural development objectives.