WORLD WATER WEEK, STOCKHOLM SERIOUS WATER ISSUES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH

The Prime Minister of India Shree Narendra Modi on 8th June 2015 said, “India must quickly expand its irrigation network and improve water usage to offset the impact of less monsoon rainfall than usual and asked officials to ensure quick results for farmers by reviewing administrative mechanisms, financial arrangements and technology use in irrigation” He also pushed for a brief, intensive effort to increase the number of farm ponds, adding that falling groundwater levels in some Indian states could force an urgent shift in crop patterns”. Over the years, there has been a manifested lack of attention to water legislation, water conservation, water use efficiency, water harvesting and recycling and infrastructure. Current scenario exhibiting number of incomplete projects accompanied by low utilization of irrigation potential already created shows that return on capital invested in creating irrigation facilities is inordinately delayed or almost lost. All incomplete projects need to be completed by 2020 by drawing a suitable road map indicating specifically the role, responsibility and accountability of officials, department and ministry concerned. It is indeed apt that the Stockholm-based International Water Institute has focused “Water & Sustainable Growth” as its theme during the World Water Week commencing from 22nd August to 2nd September 2016. It is in this context this article briefly highlights the serious issues of water for sustainable agricultural growth in India when droughts and floods are annual features in one or the other parts of the country.