Karnataka State Water Policy 2022

STATE WATER POLICY 2022 KARNATAKA WATER RESO URCES DEPA RTMENT GOVER NMENT OF KARNATAKA KARNATAKA: MAJOR RIVER BASINS STATE WATER POLICY 2022 KARNATAKA WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA CONTENTS 1. PREAMBLE 1 1.1. Area and demography 1 1.2. River systems 1 1.3. Water availability 1 1.4. Agriculture water use 2 1.5. Climate change scenario 2 1.6. Need for IWRM approach 2 1.7. Water policy vision 3 2. GOALS OF THE STATE WATER POLICY, 2022 4 2.1. Ensuring water security for the entire population 4 2.2. Improving the efficiency of urban and rural water supply, industrial water use 4 2.3. Improving the efficiency and productivity of irrigation water in agriculture and livestock 5 2.4. Improving the health of watersheds and water bodies 5 2.5. Moving towards sustainable groundwater management 6 2.6. Improving water governance 6 2.7. Managing water resources by adopting integrated approach 7 3. STRATEGIES 8 3.1. Priorities for water use 8 3.2. Rural and urban drinking water 8 3.3. Managing the state’s water infrastructure for irrigation 9 3.4. Modernising irrigation 9 3.5. Agriculture, livestock, & allied sectors 10 3.6. Re-cycling, re-use of treated waste water and rain water harvesting 11 3.7. Industrial water use planning 11 3.8. Information and knowledge management 12 3.9. Water resources planning and development 13 3.10. Conjunctive use of surface and ground water 13 3.11. Improving watersheds, rivers, and environment 14 3.12. Climate change, flood and drought management 15 3.13. Participation of the community and capacity building including elected representatives 15 4. GOVERNANCE AND STRENGTHENING THE INSTITUTIONS 16 4.1. Institutional aspects 17 4.2. Legal aspects 17 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY 18 f 1 ay) acwrm — Karnataka: Annual Average Rainfall-1992-2022 A * ~ : Gaara om ¢ * L SSoaavane dias MAHARASHTRA SEA =, aaa real = |Data Source: Hydrology Unit, Water Resources Dept. 1 TELANGANA- jj” Ia . parent MH P&nnar (B a ik\Ballapur > 120 km. 74° E. of. i 75° f 1 1. PREAMBLE The state water sector issues and challenges has evolved significantly over the last two decades due to the socio-economic growth and development in the state and hence there is a need to revise the policy to address the new challenges and make it more comprehensively Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) oriented in order to address the growing inter sectoral demands of water and ensure water, food and economic security of the state. The draft water policy was deliberated in detail with each of the major water sector departments, elicited responses from them under the leadership of Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner to the Government and a comprehensive water policy 2022 is prepared. 1.1. AREA AND DEMOGRAPHY The State of Karnataka covers an area of 1,91,791 Sq. Kms., i.e., 5.83% of the area of India. It is the eighth largest state by population with over 61.13 million inhabitants (Census, 2011) and projected to be 67.56 million in 2020 (UIDAI, May 2020). While the state economy is one of the fastest growing, about 20.91% (Karnataka SDG Report 2020) of population lived below the poverty line. 1.2. RIVER SYSTEMS The two main river systems of the state are the Krishna and its tributaries (Bhima, Ghataprabha, Vedavathi, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra) in the north, and the Cauvery and its tributaries (Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathi, Lakshmana Thirtha, and Kabini) in the south that flow eastward towards the Bay of Bengal. The west flowing rivers have a short run ranging from 50 to 300 kms and meet the Arabian sea and support rich bio-diversity. 1.3. WATER AVAILABILITY Karnataka is one of the most water stressed states in India, with large area of the State in the drought prone area. Irrigation water use is important as Karnataka has limited water resources (1,608 m3/person/ year overall and approximately 1,072 m3/person/year in eastward flowing rivers). Of the total water usage approximately 26% is from groundwater. The allowable surface water utilization for various uses is limited to 35,916 Million m3 (1268 TMC) and safe utilization of groundwater is limited to 11,477 Million m3 (405 TMC) during an average rainfall year, though the water availability and demands do vary across the state spatially. 2 3 1.4. AGRICULTURE WATER USE Agriculture accounted for about 84% of water diversions and estimated water demands in the State may reach 45,052 Million m3 (1591 TMC) by 2030 from 42,225 Million m3 (1,491 TMC) in 2020. Agriculture will remain by far the largest water user and the major source of employment for about 55% of the total population and about 75% of the rural population. The relative importance of agriculture in the Gross State Domestic Product is reducing quite quickly and the demand for water by allied sectors such as livestock, fisheries & aquaculture and non-agriculture sectors is increasing rapidly and the demand from industry is expected to almost double from 2020 to 2030. 1.5. CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO The climate change studies of Karnataka have indicated that, there is a long-term warming trend and negative trend in rainfall for Karnataka and the area affected by drought will increase. In the Kharif season, most northern districts are projected to have an increase in drought incidences by 10-80% with some districts projected to have almost a doubling of drought frequency. Floods are becoming common every year due to heavy rainfall which is higher than the long-term average in some days and sometimes 10 to 20 times above the normal. 1.6. NEED FOR IWRM APPROACH International experience shows that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is necessary to ensure water for health, food, and energy, while maximising sustainable, economic, social and environmental outcomes. IWRM is a critical requirement that will enable a smoother and more effective adaptation to climate change when compared to alternative approaches and in particular a business as usual approach. Effective IWRM includes: i. An institutional framework that is both robust and flexible, and includes modern legislation that supports an integrated and adaptive policy approach and the environment is recognised as a legitimate water user. ii. Water resources assessment, planning and management of surface water, groundwater, recycled water being knowledge driven. 2 3 iii. Stakeholder and community awareness raising and participation as a key part of water resources management. iv. Regular monitoring & evaluation to determine the planned outcomes. Agriculture/ Irrigation is the major user and consumer of surface and groundwater in Karnataka; however, the biggest challenge is to enhance the productivity and efficiency. River flows, water availability in dry seasons and water quality are recurring challenges. IWRM approach is to be adopted to improve water availability, water resource and environmental conditions and to improve water services and performance. 1.7. WATER POLICY VISION The Government of Karnataka’s Water Policy and various water related visions, responds to the scarcity of water resources and shifts focus from yield per acre to yield per unit of water consumed. Although there is no standalone, IWRM-based, water resources law, state policies, plans and objectives place a high priority on the sustainable and improved use and development of its water resources. This State Water Policy is to apply the principles of IWRM across the various sectors and institutions responsible for water resources management in the State. This is in consistence with the various national level polices and guidelines. This will drive the directions for strengthening water resources management and to optimise the use of the state’s limited water resources. 4 5 2. GOALS OF THE STATE WATER POLICY, 2022 The goal of the State Water Policy, 2022 is to facilitate the water security and optimal utilisation of the State’s water resources for health, food, energy, environment and other societal purposes. The policy aims to achieve this goal by: 2.1. ENSURING WATER SECURITY FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION i. Securing the supply of adequate, clean, accessible, affordable and safe water to all citizens for drinking and domestic purposes. ii. Securing the sustainable supply of water of adequate quality for agriculture and other uses, according to expectations and entitlements of water users so as to enable economic development while protecting the environment and minimizing vulnerability to droughts, floods, and pollution. iii. Ensuring an appropriate institutional and legal framework for the regulation and management of surface and groundwater quantity and quality. 2.2. IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF URBAN AND RURAL WATER SUPPLY, INDUSTRIAL WATER USE i. Implement 24 x 7 water supply schemes in various urban local bodies (ULB’s) & rural areas to improve the access to safe drinking water from sustainable sources. ii. Reduction of non-revenue water (NRW) by taking effective measures in UWS schemes and reduction of losses and wastages in RWSS by taking effective measures. iii. UWSS reducing dependence on fresh water and relying much more on treatment and recycling of waste water and promoting water recovery systems. iv. Source sustainability measures be prioritised for rural drinking water supply schemes. v. Enforcing the recycling and where necessary treatment of industrial effluents and wastewater for secondary uses. vi. Reporting of water consumption, discharge and reuse by large water users to be promoted and track the water recycling progress. 4 5 vii. Achieving full metering coverage for water use accountability and service charge recovery with a strong water tariff system that encourages wise use of water, with a set of incentives and penalties. 2.3. IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF IRRIGATION WATER IN AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK i. Modernising and regulating reservoir and river operations so that water is provided to irrigation systems according to allocations. ii. Modernising the State’s irrigation systems so that water is measured, wastage is reduced, and water is delivered as demanded and according to allocations for all water users. iii. Modernising irrigation systems will be preceded by a systematic study and planning using the best contemporary technical, economic, environmental, and social assessments. iv. Exploring and implementing where appropriate, efficient and highly controlled irrigation technologies such as automated canal control, drip and spray irrigation technologies. v. Prioritize water allocation for fisheries & aquaculture both at the reservoirs and inland water bodies like tanks to protect the livelihoods, food and nutritional security of population. vi. Improving the productivity of the State’s water resources to achieve economic, social, and environmental objectives by supporting farmers and industry to adopt suitable engineering, agronomic, crop intensification and diversification, harvest and post-harvest technologies, processing and marketing. vii. Promoting conjunctive and sustainable use of surface water and groundwater to best manage and minimise the vulnerability of water scarcity and drought. viii. Establishing participatory irrigation management by involvement of primary stakeholders in the planning, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems and transfer of the ownership of assets as appropriate. 2.4. IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF WATERSHEDS AND WATER BODIES i. Taking a participative integrated watershed management approach to achieve sustainable and ecologically harmonious 6 7 conditions by improving the land, water, vegetation conditions in watersheds. ii. Conserving and protecting watersheds, water bodies including rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal zones and groundwater dependent ecosystems through regulation and enforcement of water usage, land use and conservation, environmental flows, operation of water infrastructure, water pollution and waste disposal. iii. Regulating the use of the land in and around water bodies and preventing encroachment of land development in classified water bodies. iv. Preparing spatial land use management plans to reflect land use capacity, reduce erosion, protect environmentally significant ecological areas. 2.5. MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT i. Develop water security plans at Gram Panchayat level, in groundwater Over-exploited and Critical talukas of the State bringing convergence of various supply-side and demand-side interventions. ii. Ensuring an appropriate institutional and legal framework for the regulation and management of surface and groundwater quantity and quality. iii. Bring focus on base flows and address rivers becoming influent. 2.6. IMPROVING WATER GOVERNANCE i. Integrating efforts of all concerned institutions/ organizations in developing and supporting regulations for sustainable water resources management. ii. Building the capacity of government and non-government institutions so that water resources are managed efficiently, effectively and sustainably and to meet the goals of this policy. iii. Ensuring the equitable and efficient sharing of water by further developing water entitlement, allocation, infrastructure and their management systems while protecting the water environment. iv. Using contemporary technical, social, environmental, and economic studies and assessments in planning and implementing the development and conservation of the State’s 6 7 water resources including systems for managing and adapting to climate variability and climate change by arranging collaborative approaches with leading national and international partners, the private and non government sectors. v. Implementing financing and water charging systems that ensure the long-term operation and maintenance of water infrastructure assets and meet the needs of water users. vi. Ensuring the effective participation of users in development and management of the State’s water resources and support water users in the development and application of high-water productivity systems. 2.7. MANAGING WATER RESOURCES BY ADOPTING INTEGRATED APPROACH i. Recognising the finite extent of water resources, and, the fundamental significance of protecting the water balance, water resources planning and management to be carried with the river basin and sub-basin as the management unit. ii. Measures will be taken to harvest the surplus waters during floods giving due consideration for environmental flows. iii. Managing water resources recognising the interdependencies and that surface water and groundwater are part of the one resource, with special needs for river flow and adequate water quality. iv. Coordinating the policies, plans and efforts of water using and impacting sectors to ensure consistency of objectives and approaches. v. Water resources management to be based on a comprehensive, shared, cross-sectoral and openly accessible information and knowledge system. vi. Recognising the important role of women in water resources management and ensuring their direct involvement at the different levels of governance. 8 9 3. STRATEGIES 3.1. PRIORITIES FOR WATER USE Water resources planning and management will be dependent on the State’s priorities for water use. While domestic uses have overriding priority and in normal conditions water allocation will be optimised for the other uses, at times of scarcity the priorities for the supply of water will be given to: i. Domestic uses ii. Irrigation iii. Livestock, Fisheries & Aquaculture iv. Hydro-power v. Industry vi. Ecology vii. Other uses. 3.2. RURAL AND URBAN DRINKING WATER i. Water supply to rural and urban communities for drinking and domestic purposes is the highest priority use of water and this will be followed during planning and management. The State will undertake, all the drinking water supply programs to increase 24x7 supply of water of suitable quality for domestic water throughout urban and rural areas and also at times of water scarcity. ii. Separation of extraction, treatment, supply of resource, transmission of water and the service provider for distribution set up for effective bulk supply and distribution. iii. User charge system is to be implemented effectively through proper set of incentives and penalties within the affordability of all societal sections. iv. Groundwater extraction, other than for domestic use, to be restricted for commercial use depending on the degree and zone of exploitation. v. The management of Urban Water Supply assets, Rural Water Supply assets, water treatment and recycling plant assets is to be monitored to achieve longevity and optimisation of operational expenditure. vi. To optimize the water supply infrastructure for both UWS & RWS, integration of the agencies will be explored enhancing the convergence and sustainability. 8 9 3.3. MANAGING THE STATE’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IRRIGATION i. Management of irrigation assets is critical in achieving the maximum and sustainable benefits from the water resources. ii. A State Dam Safety Organisation (DSO) will be formed. Activities of the State Dam Safety Committee will be continued to minimise the impacts of development on the environment, minimising the costs and impacts from water disasters, mitigating climate variability and climate change; and, avoiding infrastructure failure that would affect the health and safety of society. iii. The State will ensure its water management agencies to manage their water infrastructure through asset management plans including operation and maintenance. Agencies will further develop an overall water services approach that includes water user involvement and feedback, and benchmarking and take appropriate measures to ensure effective, timely and cost-effective delivery of water related services to water users including the environment. iv. Operation and maintenance of water infrastructure will be financed through a combination of water service charges and government financing to ensure that service levels are maintained and that infrastructure does not fall into disrepair through deferred maintenance. Water service charges will be monitored and regulated by government. 3.4. MODERNISING IRRIGATION i. Improving water use efficiency and enhancing water productivity of irrigation systems will be a high priority with focus on the management, operation and maintenance (MOM) of irrigation systems to sustain the water delivery service requirements of farmers. ii. The overall river basin water balance will be assessed to ensure that raising efficiency and the re-allocation of savings to other uses does not exacerbate water shortages and lead to closed river basins where water needs exceed water availability. iii. The State will progressively upgrade infrastructure to modern standards of performance and utilise IT and automation systems in upgrades after comprehensive 10 11 assessment of the condition and demands of systems and consider the use of modern irrigation technologies. iv. Demand management will be promoted to conserve water and reduce losses adapting improved on-farm agronomic practices. v. Reclamation of water-logged soils and saline soils will be given special attention to enhance the irrigation water use. vi. Water users, through WUCS and WUC Federations will be closely involved in the planning, implementation and the Maintenance, Operation & Management (MOM) of irrigation systems. vii. The river basin water manager will manage the government owned water infrastructure in the river basin and the operation of dams will be coordinated to maximise benefits from supplying downstream water entitlements, mitigating the effects of drought and flood control. The infrastructure operation rules will be consistent with the river basin plan. 3.5. AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & ALLIED SECTORS i. The Water Productivity (WP) i.e., quantity of crop produced using a unit quantity of water will be documented and monitored for each crop in each agro-climatic zone. ii. A system of motivational measures and incentives will be brought into place to encourage farmers for, (a) changing from water intensive crops to water economic ones and, (b) adopting measures, including growing less water demanding varieties of a crop, which reduce the requirements of water to produce the crop. iii. The State will provide incentives, financial as well as material to promote Natural Farming / Organic Farming /Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and Integrated Farming System (IFS) in Agriculture, Horticulture and Sericulture including the aims to reduce evapotranspiration losses and enhance the income of farmers. iv. The State will encourage fisheries and aquaculture in water logged and saline lands and brackish water areas. Cooperation between water 10 11 sector and fisheries will be enhanced to include water share in the water budget of the reservoirs and enhance efficient resource management. v. The State will encourage coordination among Animal Husbandry, RDWS departments and Gram Panchayat to setup & rejuvenate water troughs and promotion of green fodder production & efficient use by AH Department to reduce wastage of water. 3.6. RE-CYCLING, RE-USE OF TREATED WASTE WATER AND RAIN WATER HARVESTING i. In order to improve human health outcomes, the state will continue to extend the treatment of waste water and the capture and recycling of stormwater throughout urban areas and to mandate the use of such water for the non-potable purpose. ii. Measures to address point source and non-point source pollution from various sectors as well as reduce solid waste pollution of water bodies. iii. Water demand reduction by including recycled water as part of urban water supply portfolio in the mid to long term. iv. Waste water will be sufficiently treated and utilized for the purpose of irrigation so as to enhance water availability for crops and facilitate recycling of water. v. Continuation of adaption of Rainwater Harvesting and water conservation measures in rural and urban areas in partnership with institutions, new public outreach and stakeholder engagement programmes. 3.7. INDUSTRIAL WATER USE PLANNING i. Available water resources will be allocated judiciously considering the industrial sector demands for supporting the economic growth of the state. ii. Water planning will also consider the transfer of water savings to industry so as to increase overall State economic growth, productivity and employment. iii. Industries will be supported to conserve water, increase water recycling and reduce discharge of polluted water into the environment. The system of pollution discharge licensing will further be strengthened. iv. Water intensive industries, such as, thermal power plants to upgrade their technologies and move to less water consumption processes 12 13 3.8. INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT i. Information and knowledge is a fundamental need for evidence-based policy making, water resources planning, development, operations and management. To this end a State wide ‘Karnataka Water Resources Information System’ (KWRIS) will be developed. This will integrate data collected and maintained by the various government agency data custodians and according to national data standards. Whilst the core of this data will comprise hydro-meteorological; surface water and groundwater; quantity and quality; land and water use; water related environmental assets and conditions; it will also comprise demographic, economic, social and other data. The KWRIS will be accessible to stakeholders and interested users. ii. Hydro-meteorological; surface water; groundwater; quantity and quality; monitoring networks will be reviewed and upgraded as necessary to address the new emerging challenges. Land and water use and demands will be assessed from time to time. iii. Institutional arrangements to collect, monitor and process all the water data parameters will be reviewed and a single agency being responsible for these responsibilities will be explored, like WRDO under WRD with expanded multi-disciplinary team. iv. A State ‘Karnataka Water Resources Inventory’ will be produced to assess the extent, uses and condition of the State’s water resources and to form a basis for determining future policy, river basin and sub-basin planning needs. The inventory will form the basis for reporting changes in the States water resources conditions. v. Research is crucial for the improved management of the state’s water resources. The government will form partnerships with research agencies and organisations for them to research the assessment, use, technologies, management, and monitoring of the state’s water resources. 12 13 3.9. WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT i. Multi-sectoral water resources planning will be undertaken at a river basin or sub-basin level. The plans will recognise the need for the State to develop its water resources to ensure water supply and food security and to promote State economic development while at the same time conserving and where possible rehabilitating the water related environment. ii. These plans will identify development opportunities as well as defining the water needs of different bulk water users and sectors that can then develop their own water entitlement and allocation plans at the different levels but within the terms of the overall river basin plan. iii. Guidelines will be developed for the development of river basin and sub-basin plans which will include surface and groundwater; water quantity and quality; existing and possible future water uses and demands; economic, social and environmental aspects. Planning needs to determine sustainable use of ground and surface waters and consider the health of the hydrological systems. Strategic environmental assessments will be undertaken at this stage. Plans will be developed participatively prior to endorsement by government. iv. Development and modernisation of all water sector projects will undergo various assessments including economic justification, environmental impact assessment (EIA) including impacts on existing users, cultural assets, social impact assessment, appropriate resettlement and rehabilitation arrangements for project affected people, public health concerns and other relevant issues. v. A comprehensive water audit/ water accounting of the state water resources and their utilisation will be carried out periodically. 3.10. CONJUNCTIVE USE OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATER i. Surface water and groundwater form part of the one resource and should be managed jointly so as to ensure sustainable use of water resources within the extent of the available water resource. The overall water entitlements and annual water allocations approach, based 14 15 on river basin units, will be strengthened to reflect seasonal water availability for both surface and groundwater. ii. Strengthened systems to regulate, measure and monitor surface and groundwater use will be further developed so that water use is clear and transparent and water shared equitably between water entitlement holders. iii. Measures will be prioritised to enable groundwater recharge by various techniques. iv. Conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water will be planned and facilitated where relevant to ensure the total water resource is used optimally. 3.11. IMPROVING WATERSHEDS, RIVERS, AND ENVIRONMENT i. The State will improve the condition and health of watersheds and related water bodies by working in close partnership with watershed committees, communities, Panchayats, and the national government. A long-term strategic approach to improving conditions will be developed and guide future policy and government investment. ii. Water quality and water ecological conditions will be assessed and a plan developed and progressively implemented to protect and where possible improve highest value ecological assets. iii. Management of coastal zones and erosion will be managed in critical areas with appropriate measures taken to protect coastal zone assets. iv. The involvement of the community is critical to improve the health of watersheds and water bodies and initiatives to support community-based involvement will be developed based on successful Indian and international experiences. v. Community based integrated Land and Water Management Plans that consider surface and groundwater, landscapes, land use, vegetation, local tanks systems and artificial recharge will be developed on a pilot basis to assess their wider applicability across the state for improving water, land, vegetation and living conditions. vi. Research and extension activities will be undertaken to assist farmers reduce the use of agrochemicals and to use of integrated pest management where suitable; to understand 14 15 the approaches, options for improving river health and their feasibility; land use and other measures to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation of water bodies. vii. Afforestation activities by the Forest, Ecology and Environment department will be continued to improve the health of the watersheds and water assets. 3.12. CLIMATE CHANGE, FLOOD AND DROUGHT MANAGEMENT i. Flood management, using a combination of structural, flood retention and by-pass works and their operation, and non structural measures including flood risk mapping, land use zoning and regulation, modern flood forecasting and warning systems, flood preparedness in vulnerable communities, and disaster relief will be strengthened in the key and most vulnerable parts of the State. ii. The risks of drought to be managed through improved forecasting and drought preparedness; improved water sharing and entitlement systems; appropriate watershed management and water harvesting measures; improved management of groundwater including enhanced recharge and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; improved consideration of management instruments such as insurance and government drought assistance; and diversification of livelihoods to improve climate resilience. iii. A State Specific Action Plan for Climate Change for water sector will be prepared to guide the actions of government agencies at the different levels as well as the community. 3.13. PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY BUILDING INCLUDING FOR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES i. Participation of end users of urban and rural water supply infrastructure will be strengthened to operate and maintain the assets including sewage treatment and water recycling plants. ii. Participatory irrigation management will be strengthened across the state in order to better manage, operate and maintain secondary & tertiary irrigation infrastructure so that water users including women are included in a customer and service focussed approach 16 17 for irrigation systems managed by government agencies. iii. Participatory arrangements will be implemented for the management of tank systems and, where conditions are critical, for the management of watersheds and administrative areas. iv. Various Local Bodies, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations will be encouraged and partnered with for improvement in management of water resources. v. The wider community in land and water management will be promoted such as for river and land care. Programs to raise the awareness and participation of communities - urban and rural, of water issues and their management will be undertaken. vi. Awareness raising and capacity building of various end users, elected representatives and other stakeholders will be taken up for driving the importance of the water. 4. GOVERNANCE AND STRENGTHENING THE INSTITUTIONS An appropriate institutional, policy and legal framework is required to enable a strong water resources management approach in the State. Currently there is no overall water resources management legislation and the Irrigation Act is sector specific. The legislative framework for water management in the state is constituted of 29 key legislations and other statutory instruments (15 central and 14 state level). A summary review of these legislations and statutory instruments show that they together constitute a complex maze of statutory provisions. This makes the legal framework for water management structurally and functionally segmented, complicating their understanding, interpretation and operation. Also due to the institutional intersections and conflicts they individually prescribe numerous actors in terms of organizational mandates and functions, but collectively provide for some functions to be performed by multiple agencies sequestered from each other, while some other important ones drop through the system neglected. 16 17 An assessment of the organizational mandates and responsibilities of the agencies involved with water management in the state shows that there are significant functional overlap and intersections in terms of regulatory, management and service delivery, especially in irrigation water management. Also, some functions such as state water planning, river basin management, environmental flow and health of river ecology, etc. need to be the mandate of some agency. To this end the State will undertake a range of actions to progressively strengthen the approach. 4.1. INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS i. The Inter-departmental State Water Resources Authority will be constituted involving all the water related departments under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources. ii. Strengthen Water User Organisations such as WUCS, TUGS, Watershed Committees, Fisheries Cooperatives and other user groups inclusive of women and their Federations through improved legislative backing and assistance. iii. High priority to the professional development of staff and strengthening their understanding and capacity for integrated water resources management and to effectively use modern technical and management practices, with support of and in partnership with, the National and International agencies. 4.2. LEGAL ASPECTS i. Undertake policy and institutional assessments to look at options and approaches for strengthening water resources management, including potentially updating relevant laws, and progressively improving the arrangements. ii. Explicitly address the core role and strengthen performance of agencies responsible for regulatory, water resources management and operational service delivery. 18 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY The Government of Karnataka will formulate plans and programs by various departments for implementation of this policy. A High-Level Water Policy Committee will be set-up under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to the Government and this becomes the key body to coordinate among all the departments and will meet regularly to provide policy guidance, coordination and performance review of implementation of the State Water Policy 2022 in the state. 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