This is with reference to Counterview Blog (December 5, 2018), "Modi govt 'shelves' water reforms report, shows 'no interest' in its recommendations", below mentioned are my comments/observations thereon:
A committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mihir Shah, Former Member, Planning Commission, for restructuring of Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for optimal development of water resources in the country in the backdrop of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
The committee has proposed for the formation of National Water Commission by merging two of the organizations namely, CWC and entral Water Commission and CGWB.
Curiously enough, neither serving nor retired chairmen from CWC and CGWB were included in the Committee, which was mandated to consider and suggest measures for the merger of these two organizations, although the committee was empowered to co-opt additional experts, as required with the purpose of bridging the knowledge gap in this whole exercise.
Principles of surface water management and ground water management are significantly different and distinct. Surface water can be planned and managed basin-wise whereas ground water is managed through aquifers which are interconnected but not necessarily exacting/matching to the river basin boundaries.
Therefore, super-speciality of both the subjects need thorough scientific know-how of these two exclusive domains and, hence, the functioning of the two super-speciality domains require exclusive work setup, work culture and interaction platform. So, CWC and CGWB are to function as two entities.
In the given situation, what is needed is to focus on institutionalization of interaction (in the form of symbiotic relationship) of the two activities rather than merging the two, lest the latter might mess-up the entire gamut of accomplishment and activity set up which is really a valuable asset for the nation.
In this context, I would like to mention that during my tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, this very aspect was seriously considered by the Ministry and, thereupon, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) at Hyderabad and Indian Institue of Management (IIM)-Ahmadabad were appointed as consultants for assessing the needs of restructuring of CWC and CGWB respectively in the year 2001.
Curiously enough, neither serving nor retired chairmen from CWC and CGWB were included in the Committee, which was mandated to consider and suggest measures for the merger of these two organizations, although the committee was empowered to co-opt additional experts, as required with the purpose of bridging the knowledge gap in this whole exercise.
Principles of surface water management and ground water management are significantly different and distinct. Surface water can be planned and managed basin-wise whereas ground water is managed through aquifers which are interconnected but not necessarily exacting/matching to the river basin boundaries.
Therefore, super-speciality of both the subjects need thorough scientific know-how of these two exclusive domains and, hence, the functioning of the two super-speciality domains require exclusive work setup, work culture and interaction platform. So, CWC and CGWB are to function as two entities.
In the given situation, what is needed is to focus on institutionalization of interaction (in the form of symbiotic relationship) of the two activities rather than merging the two, lest the latter might mess-up the entire gamut of accomplishment and activity set up which is really a valuable asset for the nation.
In this context, I would like to mention that during my tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, this very aspect was seriously considered by the Ministry and, thereupon, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) at Hyderabad and Indian Institue of Management (IIM)-Ahmadabad were appointed as consultants for assessing the needs of restructuring of CWC and CGWB respectively in the year 2001.
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| BN Navalawala |
The ASCI submitted its Draft report in October 2002 and Final report in July 2007. Again, the ASCI submitted the "amended and corrected" report (presumably after discussions/ interactions with the Ministry) in May, 2010.
Subsequently, a proposal for restructuring of CWC was prepared in the light of recommendations of various studies/ committees and keeping in view the shared vision of CWC/Ministry for the sector. The views of States and Central Ministries were also obtained on the restructuring proposal which were, in general, favourable. The Ministry also got the report examined by appointing a consultant (M Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General Honoraire, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage).
The consultant reviewed the proposal and recommended for its further consideration of Ministry after duly incorporating some suggestions made by him. The said proposal was, in principle, approved by the then Hon’ble Minster (Water Resources) and submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)/ Ministry of Finance (FoM) for further consideration in 2012.
The proposal, as considered in detail and then processed by the Ministry, addresses all the concerns and the challenges of water sector as suggested by Dr Mihir Shah Committee in their report.
In this context, one needs to understand the functioning of CWC. One of the core functions/ responsibilities of CWC is to act as a neutral referee in all matters related to inter-State issues. It has the unique institutional memory as a result of multi-disciplinary and multi-layered process of project appraisal and project monitoring, right from the stage of inception of projects over the last six decades.
The CWC provides a strong institutional mechanism to the Government of India in fulfilling its obligations under Entry (56) of List-I and Article (242) of the Constitution. Similar situation prevails when dealing with international issues. International river basins involve a special kind of management issues, handling of which would need not only the super-speciality in hydrology and water management but also scrupulous planning for strategic aspects so as to enable the country to successfully meet with intricate challenges which are in the offing, looking to the present stance of the neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan and Nepal.
India needs strategic storage projects in Brahmaputra basin like Siang for combating floods as well as in view of water diversion plans of China and for Indus river vis-Ã -vis neighbouring country Pakistan. The creation of storages in Nepal on river Mahakali and Sapt Kosi and Sun Kosi is also needed for ensuring flood protection in UP and Bihar.
The interlinking of rivers (ILR) in the country is a flagship programme of the Ministry. As on this date, as many as eleven ILR projects with international aspects and ramifications have been identified for implementation. Also, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment in February 2012 has held that ILR programme is in national interest and has further directed the Union Govt. for its expeditious implementation.
The ILR project is not only "mammoth" in size but also technically a very complex and challenging for which the need to have a strong technical organization like CWC is inescapable.
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*Former Secretary to Government of India
Subsequently, a proposal for restructuring of CWC was prepared in the light of recommendations of various studies/ committees and keeping in view the shared vision of CWC/Ministry for the sector. The views of States and Central Ministries were also obtained on the restructuring proposal which were, in general, favourable. The Ministry also got the report examined by appointing a consultant (M Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General Honoraire, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage).
The consultant reviewed the proposal and recommended for its further consideration of Ministry after duly incorporating some suggestions made by him. The said proposal was, in principle, approved by the then Hon’ble Minster (Water Resources) and submitted to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)/ Ministry of Finance (FoM) for further consideration in 2012.
The proposal, as considered in detail and then processed by the Ministry, addresses all the concerns and the challenges of water sector as suggested by Dr Mihir Shah Committee in their report.
In this context, one needs to understand the functioning of CWC. One of the core functions/ responsibilities of CWC is to act as a neutral referee in all matters related to inter-State issues. It has the unique institutional memory as a result of multi-disciplinary and multi-layered process of project appraisal and project monitoring, right from the stage of inception of projects over the last six decades.
The CWC provides a strong institutional mechanism to the Government of India in fulfilling its obligations under Entry (56) of List-I and Article (242) of the Constitution. Similar situation prevails when dealing with international issues. International river basins involve a special kind of management issues, handling of which would need not only the super-speciality in hydrology and water management but also scrupulous planning for strategic aspects so as to enable the country to successfully meet with intricate challenges which are in the offing, looking to the present stance of the neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan and Nepal.
India needs strategic storage projects in Brahmaputra basin like Siang for combating floods as well as in view of water diversion plans of China and for Indus river vis-Ã -vis neighbouring country Pakistan. The creation of storages in Nepal on river Mahakali and Sapt Kosi and Sun Kosi is also needed for ensuring flood protection in UP and Bihar.
The interlinking of rivers (ILR) in the country is a flagship programme of the Ministry. As on this date, as many as eleven ILR projects with international aspects and ramifications have been identified for implementation. Also, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment in February 2012 has held that ILR programme is in national interest and has further directed the Union Govt. for its expeditious implementation.
The ILR project is not only "mammoth" in size but also technically a very complex and challenging for which the need to have a strong technical organization like CWC is inescapable.
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*Former Secretary to Government of India
Comments
So I am very much agree with author that a committee without experts of field is simply vague and creates doubt on the intention of government.
Yoginder Alagh
A. B. Pandya, Former Chairman CWC
Raj Kishore
1- MSCR says no dam in Indus , Govt wants to utilize legitimate share of Indus under treaty
2-MSCR says No dam in Ganga Basin, Govt gave go ahead to Pancheshwar Development Authority (PDA).
3-MSCR says no to Interlinking. For Govt it's a priority and Supreme Court has already endorsed the concept in 2012.
4-MSCR says no dam in Brahmaputra Basin ..Govt fully committed to work on ACT EAST policy to develop NE region blessed with Water Resource
MSR says dismantle CWC ... Govt. should not agree considering the above 4 clear cut divergences....
And, a committee whose task was to suggest restructuring of CWC and CGWB, went off at a tangent and addressed the ground water versus large dams debate, and made recommendations that go against the National Water policy. Why didn’t the MoWR summarily reject the report, the way MoEF had summarily rejected the Gadgil Committee report a few years ago?
Mr. Navalawala, author of this article, occupied a high position in the Ministry, as Advisor. One expected that an article from him would provide an insight in to what has been going on inside the MoWR. Unfortunately, he has refrained from commenting on the machinations within MoWR. Water sector analysts will not find the article useful in furthering their understanding of some of the strange things that have happened in the Shrama Shakti Bhavan in the past few years.
Chetan Pandit
Retd. Member, CWC
B.N.Navalawala fails to put forth one strong reason to persist with the current format of Central Water Commission. He states that Aquifers and River Basins do not match. And should that be a reason for thwarting reformation of a 70 year old institution that is now fast becoming irrelevant in 21st century water sector? For sure B.N.Navalawala is not a hydrologist, but those who have some basic knowledge of hydrology will agree that surface water and ground water are inter-connected and they are treated as single resource! Unfortunately, B.N.Navalawala has failed to read the National Water Policies drafted, recommended and approved by both Central Water Commission and Ministry of Water Resources! B.N.Navalawala, during his tenure in MoWR, himself has agreed to the National Water Policies - 2002 and 2012 that calls for institutional reform and creation of multi-disciplinary river basin organizations. B.N.Navalawala was silently agreed all of these policies as a Secretary, MoWR, RD & GR. He has written this article by him only for the purpose of staying relevant in Govt invited seminars and other seminars/worshops organized by vested interests.
Whether anyone defending Central Water Commission, can able to say, how many more large dams can be constructed as on 2018 in comparison with 1950s and 1960s? Where do you think you can construct? where is the data? And whether dam design is rocket science as has been made out by vested interests? Come on, the dam design that Central Water Commission assume as rocket science is now an old outdated technology known to States/Private sector and Public Sector. So, what is the prowess of Central Water Commission in this regard?
21st century water management demands a different institution and Central Water Commission is a relic that suits 1950s and 1960s! How does it take water management of India into future?
The country doesn't know that B.N.Navalawala, throughout his career in MoWR, RD & GR, was a vocal critic of Central Water Commission. Quite surprising, what motivated him to make this volta face of defending a 70 year old Central Water Commission and defending its vested interests who have converted the Central Water Commission to suit their way of life instead of the nation.
It is very unfortunate that such a high ranking official as B.N.Navalawala who worked hard to restructure Central Water Commission while in service has now reduced himself to being a turn-coat! What could be the reason? Is it due to the fear of losing invitations to Govt sponsored seminars and conferences? Or is it due to the fear of wading into irrelevance?
Hope this frank and honest counterview will be published by counterview.net.
J.Harsha
Director, Central Water Commission (Views are personal) Author of paper "Thwarting water sector reforms" published in Journal of Economic and Political Weekly dated 22.09.2018 Vol (53) 38.
Central Water Commission seemed to have emerged as roadblock to vested interests of bureaucrat-politician-contractor nexus and so they want it to be disbanded. They were overtly troubled by techno economic appraisal of water resources projects done by CWC and had expressed their uneasiness in various forms. However, Cabinet Secretariat had taken some well thought decision to continue with the existing process.
If dam building is not rocket science, RWH and GW recharge is? What role was played by CGWB all these years to be rewarded with 1500 more posts as recommended by Mihir Shah committee report and why it oversaw excellent reports prepared for restructuring CWC in the past? What actually was its mandate? It appears that NAQUIM and other GW schemes along with prevailing license raj in allowing drawal of GW by industries are mired with corruption and Mihir Shah Committee was instituted by corrupt bureaucrats of MoWR who can't stand upto CWC engineers.
Here I will expose the calibre of Central Water Commission (CWC) and the CWC engineers in the interest of the country. I request esteemed Counterview should publish this truth and rebuttal.
With reference to AIBP, in 2010-11, Public Accounts Committee discovered that several major/medium irrigation/dam projects which were approved and investment clearances granted were based on incomplete reports and improper assessments. Further, it noted that the Benefit-Cost ratio was conspicuously not conducted for many projects. Since, all the DPRs are appraised and routed through CWC, how did these incomplete reports and improper assessments went through various levels of CWC engineers and got investment clearances? This shows that CWC was never a roadblock to any bureaucrat-politician-contractor nexus, rather CWC and its engineers themselves were roadblock to the techno-economic appraisal of water resources projects or might have been part of the this nexus.
In 2011-12, a Commissioner in the Ministry issued a letter stating that all the land should be in possession of the project before seeking central assistance under AIBP. Just check how many times these successive Chairman, CWC that includes (Shri) A.B.Pandya, G.S.Jha, Narendra Kumar, Masood Hussein raised objections against funding these projects with land acquisition problems that possess endless litigations and delayed the projects? For sure, there is no need to take excuse on bureaucrats-politician-contractor nexus.
90% of the projects amongst the 99 priority projects do not possess CADWM works that is crucial to take the water from the outlets to the individual farms. Water does not reach majority of the farmers but yet CWC engineers send fake data and declare falsely that these projects are completed! Most of the Irrigation Potential created and Irrigation Potential Utilized figures declared by CWC engineers are fake. Do we need such CWC which is cheating not only the people of the country but misleading the nation!
CWC has been indicted by CAG several times. 1) In 2008, CAG Report No.CA 1 of 2008 discovered that Rs 37.85 lakh was spent on “Sangam” portal and the system was deficient and remained idle, why did series of Chairman kept quiet against those who wasted public money? 2) In 2017, CAG tabled a report in Parliament that stated 60% of the telemetry used in flood forecasting was non-operational and that defeated the very purpose of flood forecasting. 3) In 2004, 2010, 2018, CAG indicted CWC of recommending to releasing money for AIBP projects despite cost overruns, time overruns, with land acquisition issues, without proper utilization certificates, without proper proposals……
Till date, (Shri) A.K.Bajaj, A.B.Pandya, G.S.Jha, Masood Hussein, R.K.Jain, R.K.Sinha do not possess any caliber to publish single technical paper on dams or water management in a peer reviewed journal. And they are opposing the great Dr. Mihir Shah who has already contributed in several national and international peer-reviewed journals and recognized by the government. By the way, CWC engineers should better learn what a peer-reviewed journal is all about.
It is the ploy of vested interests of CWC to initiate personal attacks against those upright officials who speak truth and expose CWC. These personal attacks only show that CWC engineers are capable of nothing except thwarting water sector reforms and terrorizing the dissenting views.
60% of CWC is located in Yamuna basin, i.e.Delhi. And CWC engineers speak of river basin management in seminars, what a hypocrisy! Therefore, it is high time, the moribund and notorious Central Water Commission should be urgently dismantled for the betterment of water sector in the country and it is better vested interests of Central Water Commission should prepare for the obituary of Central Water Commission in the near future.
Already the government has rightly merged MoWR and Ministry of Drinking water supply to create Ministry of Jal Shakti. I fully support the government in institutional and water sector reforms.
Central Water Engineering Service (CWES) guys are more focused and concerned with TA/DA/LTC/Promotion/Increment/transfers than water crisis, water management and water policy of the country. To get a highly sought posting at National Water Academy, Pune due to well furnished Quarters, well furnished offices, outdoor locales; they are ready to stoop to any level. However the quality of training at NWA, Pune as on date is poor. Actually, many CWES do not possess the knowledge beyond 1869 BCM (now revised 1913 BCM), 1123 BCM, 690 BCM and 433 BCM of utilizable water resources in India. For saying this, they call experts.
You ask current and future Chairman, Members about any knowledge about modelling software like HECRAS, MIKE, SOBEK, FLOOD MODELLER, there are 99% chances that their knowledge in these water resources softwares is NIL. The current and future Chairman/Members who are generally on the verge of retirement will be more focused on strengthening their pensions and other post-retirement benefits than water resources sector. Many of the current and future Chairman/members and some influential Chief Engineer will be more busy in grabbing opportunities selfishly for going abroad on the pretext of attending seminars, training without explaining what did they learnt from such a training and how much India's water sector was benefited from such a training by people who are on the verge of retirement. In contrast, young Assistant Directors are sent to third class National Water Academy, Pune where the syllabus/training programs are so outdated that many are already been taught during our graduation/engineering course.
Many CWES have become experts in spiritualism. In various CWC/CWES whatsapp groups/facebook groups, they chat more on spiritualism than water resources. Many have transformed into second grade babas and sants. Whereas they pretend to be babas and sants, in reality, they behave like dictators in day-to-day functioning. They do not have team spirit, they do not get work for the empty directorates, they do not defend CWC's pathetic state in Ministry. They target honest officers, they treat young UPSC recruits as if they are criminals and abuse them through punishment transfers, spoil APARs in tandem and impose sanctions on their traning. CWC is suffering from severe manpower shortage and budgetary shortage. Most the Chairman and Members are incapacitated to speak on any one issue courageously even with the Joint Secretary, Administration in the Ministry, because they do not have that expertise to raise their voice. Rather, Chairman, Members become active after their post-retirement because they need to be invited at seminars and conferences as "experts".
Does India need such CWC that is burden on water sector and burden on exchequer?
Dear Abhay Kumar,
You are a victim of the propaganda that CWC played its role in shaping water sector of the country!
CWC did not play any role in shaping water sector of the country. It's pathetic record of undermining the environment concerns and throwing out Indigenous Peoples in the case of Sardar Sarovar Dam is documented by World Bank and then successive orders by Supreme Court. Sardar Sarovar was lucky to catch the limelight to the commendable efforts Ms Medhar Patkar. But do you know the condition of 6000 large dams as on date? You don't know, but yet you say CWC effort is commendable.
CWC framed 3 National Water Policies. The first one was 30 years back i.e. 1987. It proclaimed in 1987 creation of river basin organizations. Where are river basin organizations 30 years after? Many of the CWES guys serving and retired are opposing river basin organizations. Did it shaped water sector?
CWC is monitoring the Command Area Development since 1974. Do you know the status of Command Area of all the irrigation projects. CWC has mastered in compiling fake data about IPC, IPU and sending to SPR Wing, Ministry of Jal Shakti. Almost in all of the major/medium irrigation projects, command area works have got destroyed why because FICs are mere earthwork excavation which will vanish within one monsoon season. Is this shaping water sector? Have you visited any command area of any of the projects.
CWC is an organization of liars, an organization of boot lickers and fake experts. It is not a scholarly organization yet it publishes reports without peer-review for the consumption of innocents like you. Visit the SPR Wing, Ministry of Jal Shakti and CAD Wing, you will get all fake data about completion of the projects.
CWC has forwarded and recommended many of the state government funding proposals under PMKSY-AIBP which have violated procedural and financial irregularities. Do you know that? PMKSY is not a scheme, it is a scam!
I can reveal so much about this terror organization but there is a word limit. So, I challenge you to disprove all I have said here.