In recent news, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti reviewed the mid-term progress of the National Hydrology Project (NHP). The NHP, launched in 2016, is an initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and it benefits from the support of the World Bank. The project’s overarching aim is to augment the quantity, reliability, and accessibility of water resources data, strengthen India’s water resource management institutions, and facilitate efficient acquisition of credible information. The beneficiaries of the NHP are central and state implementation agencies, river basin organizations, and users of the Water Resources Information System (WRIS) across various sectors worldwide.
National Hydrology Project: A Brief Overview
The NHP saw its inception as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grants offered to implementing agencies across India. The initiative boasts a budget outlay of INR 3680 crore, earmarked for expenditure over eight years. The project aims to enhance the volume, reliability, and ease of access to water resources data, contribute to capacity building in targeted water resource management institutions across India, and foster the efficient acquisition of trustworthy information, thus facilitating sound water resource development and management.
Project Beneficiaries: Who Stands to Gain?
The primary beneficiaries of the project are central and state implementing agencies responsible for planning and managing surface and/or groundwater resources. Additionally, users of the Water Resources Information System (WRIS) from various sectors worldwide also benefit from this initiative.
Project Components: The Building Blocks of the National Hydrology Project
The NHP comprises various components, including the Water Resource Monitoring System (WRMS), which aims to enhance the extent, timeliness, and reliability of water resources data. It includes the establishment of Hydromet Observation Networks, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems for Water Infrastructure, and Hydro-Informatics Centers.
Water Resources Information System
Another crucial component of the NHP is the Water Resources Information System (WRIS). This component focuses on strengthening national and sub-national water information centers through standardization of databases and products from various sources and departments. It also aims to establish state WRIS and strengthen the existing WRIS.
Water Resources Operation and Planning System
This component supports the development of interactive analytical tools and decision support platforms that would integrate database, models, and scenario manager for hydrological flood forecasting, integrated reservoir operations, and water resources accounting for improved operation, planning, and management of both surface and groundwater.
Water Resources Institutions Capacity Enhancement
This facet of the NHP seeks to strengthen the capacity for knowledge-based water resources management. As part of this, it facilitates professional development, project management, and operational support.
Mid-term Review: Assessing the Project’s Progress
The NHP has been referred to as a project of national importance because it sets up a nationwide ‘Nodal’ ‘one point’ platform for all states to collaborate and share data related to water resources. Under the aegis of the NHP, the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) has been set up, acting as a nationwide repository of water resources data.
Concerns and Suggestions
Despite its benefits, the project faces challenges such as collecting data from scattered agencies, which can be an obstacle in effective water resource management. Further, previous governments’ lack of interest led to the non-availability of reliable historical data. As a solution, authorities are encouraged to share the valuable works carried out under the NHP in the public domain and inspire academia and research institutes worldwide to contribute to this initiative.
The Road Ahead
In the future, more data-driven developments are anticipated, which can transform the water sector from an experience-based system relying mainly on personal judgment to a transparent, optimised one. This new system will be able to assess the impacts of decisions across sectors in advance, leading to informed and effective policy making.