Decentralized Solutions for Water Management organized at India Water Week (Nov 2022)

An insightful session on the topic “Decentralized Solutions for Water Management” was organized at India Water Week on 3rd November 2022 under CGIAR Initiative on National Policies & Strategies (NPS). The session was chaired by Dr. Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Odisha and Ms. Archana Verma, Mission Director, National Water Mission. The session emphasized the need to identify decentralized solutions for managing water through appropriate technologies and new ideas. The session focus was to find solutions which have higher involvement of women and youth & community participation and at the policy level, to determine technological solutions which efficiently manage surface and groundwater through conjunctive use. The panelist comprised ministries, universities, private companies, NGOs etc, the key outcomes were: – a) Village communities should be involved in the management of water resources; policies should be framed keeping in mind traditional water management practices and institutions at the village level. A circular economy approach should be followed where treated wastewater can be reused in agriculture. This reuse may be classified into different categories depending on the end-use of crops grown with treated wastewater. c)Measurement of actual water use through the use of technologies and people’s participation can help in improving water resource management. d) Community-led water resources development and management by leveraging government programs such as MGNREGA to promote integrated land and water management. e). Promotion of sub-HP solar pumps, micro irrigation, and soil moisture management as instruments for decentralized water management.