New Delhi: The NITI Aayog which recently launched the Composite Water Management Index has called for improvement in Odisha’s water management/conservation policy.
In its 180-page report released recently, the Centre’s think tank said that Odisha lacks policy and data on water conservation and water crisis and steps should be taken to work on the area.
The report which highlighted some of the problems of states and their policies mentioned that Odisha needs to work on groundwater rejuvenation, waste water treatment, policy and data management.
The report, while commenting on policy said, “Odisha has not enacted any conservation legislation and has not set up an integrated water data centre.”
While discussing waste water treatment, the NITI paper said the state’s installed capacity to treat urban waste water is less than 10 per cent.
However, the report lauded the state government for utilising more than 95 per cent of Odisha’s irrigation potential and for constructing more than 80 per cent of their targeted water harvesting structures and geo tagging two-thirds of them.
The NITI Aayog also appreciated the state’s efforts for equitable water management through Odisha Pani Panchayats and presented it as a case study in the report for a good case of participatory irrigation practice.
PNN