Govt. gearing up for reforms in water sector

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 14. After the tentative steps towards reforms in the power sector, the State Government is gearing up for reforms in the water sector with the objective of evolving alternate models keeping in view the ecological sensitivities of major irrigation schemes and the need to have private-public partnership in irrigation and drinking water supply.

Proposals aimed at reforms in the water sector were mooted at a two-day workshop titled `Towards Sustainable Water Resources Management for Kerala' organised by the Irrigation and Water Supply Department at the Kanakakkunnu Palace here on October 8 and 9. The workshop was meant for formulating a common approach to the Tenth Five Year Plan. Although essentially an in-house affair with over 180 participants representing various Government and non-Government agencies in the irrigation, water supply and sanitation sectors, the workshop turned out to be a forum for a self-critical, reflective evaluation of the ongoing programmes.

Five separate groups were constituted to frame the strategies and recommendations required to be incorporated in the 10th Five Year Plan. Separate groups were formed for major irrigation, minor irrigation, drinking water supply, compulsions and possibilities of technological choices and group watershed, land use, water use efficiency and river basin management.

These groups were asked to analyse the causes for delay, cost escalation and lack of focus in the implementation of projects. In their report to the workshop, the participant groups came up with a comprehensive status assessment, identification and analysis of problems and issues, policy shifts proposed in major areas, long term strategies and recommendations for the 10th Plan. Most of the groups recognised the need for changes in the sector, the need for an interdisciplinary approach and the need to win back the confidence of the public. The participant groups also favoured the idea of public-private partnership.

The reports also pointed to the urgent need for the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to have a commercial outlook and the need for it to diversify into more productive areas. The reports also suggested formulation of schemes that could be implemented on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis and the need for the KWA to emerge as a provider of consultancy services.

Inaugurating the workshop, the Irrigation Minister, Mr. T.M. Jacob, pointed out that lack of realistic intervention and sincere efforts have resulted in the prolonged delay in the implementation of several irrigation projects. Even completed projects are confronted with the problem of sustainability. He stressed the need for co-ordination among the various departments, especially Agriculture, Irrigation, Water Supply and Power, to make the projects sustainable.

Mr. Jacob said it is regretful that the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) projects have become lifeless. He also referred to the problems of environmental protection, need for strengthening an investigation wing and the futility of having a Water Policy that is never implemented.

Addressing the participants, the Water Sanitation Programme (South Asia) regional manager, Mr. Junaid Ahmed, said countries such as South Africa and the Philippines had evolved innovative financing and management models for water supply projects resulting in uninterrupted water supply.

Earlier, in the course of his introductory remarks, the Irrigation Secretary, Mr. K. Jayakumar, told the workshop that the reports would be codified shortly and a comprehensive approach paper for the 10th Plan would be prepared in the light of these.

The Planning Secretary, Mr. S.M. Vijayanand, said given the precarious fiscal position of the State Government, Kerala would have to start the 10th Plan from scratch. The State would be able to take up the challenges in the water sector only through water sector reforms that would integrate within them reforms in laws, systems and practices. What would be most appropriate for Kerala, he said, is strong public-private participation. The reforms should be based on principles of transparency and participation of interest groups. Gone are the days when public utilities could look forward to the Government for infinite financial support. Sustainable financing models with accountability for quality and service would have to be adopted, Mr. Vijayanand said.

The need to get over departmental approach and to strive towards an integrated vision in water resources management, especially in river basin management, was stressed by the Science, Technology and Environment Department ex-officio secretary, Prof. M. Jayakumar. The concerns of the sanitation sector and the pros and cons of its total integration with water supply systems were reviewed by the Rural Development Commissioner, Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan.

The Kerala Rural Water Supply Agency executive director, Mr. James Varghese, said the Agency is involved in formulating an innovative demand-driven approach to rural drinking water supply with active involvement and ownership of the communities. Mr. Satyajit Singh, Rural Specialist, Water and Sanitation Program South Asia, Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Mission, the Centre for WAter Resources Development and Management director, Dr. P. Basak, Prof. C.S. Renjit, Adviser, Sector Reforms (RWSS), Dr. K.N. Panicker, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF), and Mr. K.M. Namboothiri, Technical Adviser (SEUF), also made separate presentations.

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