VIKSIT RAJYA, VIKSIT BHARAT: INDIA’S WATER VISION
Water is not merely just a natural resource, but it is rather the essence of life. That is precisely why when we aim for development, we must adopt a sustainable approach towards utilizing such a critical resource. To fulfill the aim of a VIKSIT BHARAT, there is a pressing need to conserve and manage the water resources effectively.
The ‘VIKSIT RAJYA, VIKSIT BHARAT: INDIA’S WATER VISION’ series features insightful interviews with senior bureaucrats, expert professionals, industry thought leaders, researchers, and academicians from different states across the country. The series attempts to unravel innovative solutions for managing water resources across India and emphasize their contribution in the water sector.
We will focus on individuals from various states who have been at the forefront of implementing transformative water-related projects to address issues such as water scarcity, conservation, and sustainability.
THE ODISHA STORY
In this exclusive conversation with APAC News Network & CXO News, Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha brings forth Odisha’s success story in water conservation. Incidentally in the 5th National Water Awards organized by the Ministry Of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Odisha bagged first position in the Best State Category for its unique interventions towards mitigating water resource management challenges.
The main source of water in Odisha is rainfall. Yet, its spatial distribution is uneven and erratic. In such a scenario what measures are taken by the department to ensure water availability in the drought-prone areas? What are the specific projects undertaken in this direction?
Water security for all states these days is such an important thing and more so for states like Odisha because we have a very varied spatial distribution. There are times when we get a lot of rainfall and because of climate change this is becoming more and more frequent, but what we did then is that we are trying to ensure wherever we can create a water body, wherever we can generate more water or through Jal Shakti Abhiyan if we can conserve more water we are doing that. For example, in the last 4-5 years our biggest achievement I would say was that we were able to complete a large number of projects. These projects for various reasons were pending for a long time. This happens across the country because of forest problems, rehabilitation issues, and people’s resistance. There are a lot of issues which are not in one’s hands, but we went all out to complete projects and some of these major irrigation projects were in areas that were traditionally known for droughts.
 We completed the Lower Indra project which is in Nuapada district very close to Kalahandi. We completed Indravati’s lift irrigation project which was again in Kalahandi. Similarly, in Balangir which is another of our very drought-prone districts, we completed the Lower Suktel Dam and right now we are making its distribution network through underground pipelines. As a result, whatever ayacuts we were supposed to have achieved, we did it through open canals. So this is how we have been trying to complete the Ghatakeshwar Dam and Subarnarekha project, which were ongoing for a long time. We identified the missing links and slowly every year we did 10,000 hectares of land area then released that water. Next year, we completed 17,000 hectares of land area then released that water. That’s how we completed the 70,000 hectares of the project. We then undertook the second phase of the project.
Likewise in other projects, for example, there was a coordination issue with NHAI, and we quickly had a meeting to resolve it. With that approach, we were able to resolve a lot of our coordination issues. We did a lot of out-of-court settlements relating to some court-related issues for rehabilitation. Also our policies were quite liberal to ensure that we were able to give it promptly to citizens. We call it responsible rehabilitation which means with our hearts we went to people saying that yes we feel bad your land is going but we are here to help you. So even in the transition, we helped them. So for example temporary housing is to be given. We have sanctioned food, conveyance and anything required to help them shift. So from our side, we did whatever we could to ensure responsible rehabilitation of people, so their resistance came down a little and then we were able to complete these projects.
Odisha experiences a disproportionate number of weather disasters (including cyclones, floods, and droughts). Thus, climate-resilient structures play an integral role in effective water management. What has been the department’s approach in this direction?
We have a disproportionate burden of natural disasters, as everyone knows. In 2014, we had a cyclone. In 2018, we had a cyclone. Repeated cyclones in 2019,2020, 2021, 2022, and then now 2024, we had cyclone Dana. So you can see the impact of climate change. We are just repeatedly getting cyclones. We have weather disasters almost every second year. We have floods and of course droughts. So, for us, it is very important to ensure flood-proofing, to ensure drought-proofing, and to have disaster-resistance infrastructure.
For building disaster-resilient infrastructure, the department is doing a couple of things. Firstly, we are trying to conserve as much water as we can. We are completing all the ongoing dams and infrastructure projects. Then we are creating what we call in-stream storage structures, which are like large barrages on our rivers that lead to water storage within the river itself.
On the other hand, we are constructing check dams on other smaller rivers. By now we have already built 15,000 check dams which are built through geo referencing. So, everywhere we are able to conserve water. Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, we used self-help groups to make water harvesting structures that are maintained by them.
There is another component which is the saline embankments. When there is a flood or when there is a tidal surge, there is also saline ingress. To prevent that from affecting our fields, we are consolidating our embankments. For that, we have entered into a partnership with the National Institute of Ocean Technology, which is based out of Chennai. Using their expertise, we are trying to consolidate the length and breadth of the saline embankments, wherever it could have a negative impact during disasters. We have taken up a project with the World Bank also, where we are renovating 538 tanks and using them for climate-resilient agriculture.
We are using deep wells with solar power. We are implementing an integrated approach, not just for irrigation, but water as a resource in general. Every drop of water we are using for irrigation, we are using for hydel power, tourism and fisheries. We are trying to maximize effective usage of water.
How can citizen participation be a game changer in advancing water sustainability? How can Odisha’s citizen-centric approach, broadly termed Pani Panchayats, serve as a role model nationwide?
 For every water body, we have pani panchayats, which are Water User Associations and these are all the beneficiary/ affected farmers residing in the vicinity of the canal or the water body. The idea of the Pani Panchayats, which are the elected bodies, is that they should manage their water, conserve it, and distribute it in an equitable manner. People in the upper reaches utilize the water barring people at the tail end from accessing it. Now the responsibility of this pani panchayat is to ensure rotational irrigation where on the first day the water goes straight to the tail end then to other parts so that water is available to everybody. Apart from that, they also do the repairs. The minor repairs, addressing disputes, and innovative agricultural ideas are taken care of by members of Pani Panchayats. We have more than 40,000 Pani Panchayats in Odisha. They are managing the lift irrigation, the mega lift, irrigation aspects plus the canals. But it’s not just the Pani panchayats.
As a community, we have also involved the women’s self-help groups. So women’s self-help groups in Odisha are not just being managed to create water harvesting structures in urban areas. During Jal Shakti Abhiyan, we created more than 55,000 water harvesting structures, big and small, and they are the one maintaining them. But apart from that, they are also doing water quality checking. So, the women’s self-help groups have been specially trained to go and check the water quality. So they are not just beneficiaries, but they are also partners in the progress. Whatever progress we are making, they are our partners.
Apart from that, we are also using Slum Dwellers Associations. We are using the Van Suraksha Samiti’s structures sometimes in forest areas to conserve water. Slum Dwellers Associations in urban areas. So we are trying to utilize these and also academia. We have partnerships with IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, and the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee. We are trying to enter into these types of partnerships. So that we get the best of ideas and we are able to deliver better.
Water Conservation is an amalgamation of technology and community involvement. As a senior female bureaucrat, how are you personally taking forward the water conservation initiatives?
It is extremely important for me to involve women. In fact, we have a couple of Pani projects, which are all women Pani Panchayats. We have also changed the Pani Panchayat Act. We have mandated that the spouses of the farmers will also be members of the Pani Panchayats, which ensures 50% of the women’s participation automatically. We are trying to involve our women in all possible activities. So, the women in Odisha are doing a lot of these JAL SANCHAY activities apart from water quality testing. We don’t want to attach women with stereotypical jobs, rather we are promoting stereotype-defying activities like electronic meter reading, water quality testing, etc. I am very proud of the women of Odisha.
How is the department promoting water use efficiency to ensure robust irrigation practices supporting the socio-economic aspect of the people?
Water use efficiency is nowadays a very important thing given the scarcity of water that we are anticipating will happen. I think across the country, people are now using systems to ensure water use efficiency. In our state, we are now focusing on underground pipelines instead of open canals. So, there is less evaporation and a focused flow of water. Almost 10,000 km of underground pipelines have been laid for irrigation purposes. Though everywhere laying underground pipelines is not possible. In that case, we are trying to line the canals to prevent the wastage of water. We have a special scheme for that. Then there is the command area.
So earlier there used to be a field-to-field flow of water which was a practice. But we are now trying to ensure that it goes through the field channels and field drains. So the network of small streams (nala) is very robust. In upper reaches, we have a system of lifting water through mega lift irrigation projects for almost 2000 hectares of area. The community is also playing a crucial role in this. Rotational irrigation in itself is a very essential means of ensuring water use efficiency.
Along with the charge of an Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, you are the Development Commissioner as well. What upcoming policy interventions can be expected linking development aspects with efficient water management aligning with the aim to achieve Viksit Odisha @2036?
The rest of the country has embarked on this vision for 2047. Within that, Odisha has embedded a vision for 2036 which also marks 100 years of completion of the formation of Odisha state. At that time, our vision is that we will be water secure. To do that, I think as Development Commissioner, what has been very useful for me is that I am able to get all the concerned departments together.
In the case of drinking water, we are ensuring the sustainability of our water resources. Whether it is for drinking water, irrigation, or hydel power, we are using large reservoirs for floating solar panels with the help of industries. We are second in terms of industry involvement in water resources management after Maharashtra. To ensure that water is used wisely, we can have slurry pipelines, and industries have their water management plans. Many industries are using their reservoirs for floating solar.
Compared to many other states, we have 9 semi-critical blocks whereas other states have more exploited blocks, critical blocks, and many semi-critical blocks. In those also, we are installing rainwater harvesting systems and constructing recharge shafts. We have a project with the Green Climate Fund for constructing wells in order to recharge groundwater levels. For us water is a major resource and we are using it to promote tourism as well like Hirakud Reservoir. It is very important to conserve old water bodies. Under the Amrut Scheme, a large number of such water bodies were renovated and beautification was taken up.
Everyone already knows, but it’s just that we need to keep on saying it, that water is such a precious commodity. All those who are working in this sector should feel blessed that we have been able to do our bit to preserve, and conserve water and to generally ensure that it is managed well. But all those who are using it, please use it wisely. It is a very precious resource.
Arpita Banerjee, APAC NEWS NETWORK
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