Newsletter No. 62;
IRBMS
(4) Centre sets up high level committer for arrangements for optimal management of water
water management in NE [Source: ToI] resources of the NER, but also suggest policy
interventions and identifying actionable measures
Govt. of India has set up a high level committer for needed for optimizing management of water
proper management of water resources in NE resources. Recently, the Centre faced flak from the
States in Aug 2017. The government has felt the CAG after it observed in its latest audit that states
need for “multi-sectoral interventions and concerted prone
strategy” to ensure water management, including management schemes.
to
floods
have
failed
to
implement
management of catchment areas in upper reaches.
Almost every year, the Brahmaputra—one of the
largest
river
systems
in
the
4) World Water Day:
world—causes
considerable damage to the region through frequent
There were over 663 million people living without
a safe water supply close to home, spending
flooding and erosion.
countless hours, queing or trekking to distant
The Committee would facilitate optimizing benefit sources, and coping with health impacts of using
of appropriate water management in the form of contaminated water. This year’s theme in World
hydroelectric Water
power,
agriculture,
biodiversity
day
was;
‘Why
waste
water?’
The
conservation, reduced flood damage erosion, Sustainable Development Goals launched in 2015,
inland water transport, forestry, fishery and eco- include a target to ensure everyone has access to
tourism. It will work under the Chairmanship of safe water by 2030, making water a key issue in the
Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog but the Ministry of fight to eradicate extreme poverty.
Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will
be the coordinating point. Besides secretaries of In 1993, the UN General Assembly officials
relevant ministries, chief secretaries of all the eight designated March 22 as World Water Day which is
states are a part of the committee. The committee coordinated by UN Water in collaboration with
will submit its report and Plan of Action by June Governments and Partners.
2018.
India’s Silicon Valley is going to build Sludge
The newly formed committee will not only identify recovery Plants. The Water Supply and Sewerage
gaps Board of Bangalore has selected SUEZ to support
in
the
existing
mechanism/institutional
4
Integrated River Basin Management Society