INCREASING THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCIENTISTS, POLICY MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS SUBERNAREKHA RIVER BASIN, INDIA SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES AND POLICY OPTIONS RAMESH BHATIA AND DEVENDRA GUPTA

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS I. POVERETY REDUCTION POPULATION IN THE REGION: 45 MILLION PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE BELOW POVERTY LINE IS MORE THAN 45 PERCENT COMPARED WITH 30 PERCENT ALL-INDIA AND 5-8 PERCENT IN THE PUNJAB II. FOOD SECURITY FOOD PRODUCTION IS NOT ADEQUATE TO MEET THE DEMAND ADDITRIONAL FOOD THROUGH IRRIGATION

III CONFLICTS IN WATER DEMANDS Projected Water Demand and Supply Note: ‘_’ indicate data not available Shortfall of 690 MCM

IV WATER QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH Estimated Discharge of untreated or Semi-treated water in the river (amount equal to annual water yield) from Urban sources. : 0.4 MCM This is in addition to discharge of metallic, non- metallic and toxic substances from mines.

WATER QUALITY AND HEALTH IMPACTS WATER QUALITY INFORMATION DURING DRY MONTHS INDICATE HIGH CHEMICALS AND COLIFORMS. DO LEVEL DOWNSTREAM OF JAMSHEDPUR LOW INDICATING NOT FIT FOR AQUATIC LIFE BOD LEVELS AT ALL STATIONS BELWO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS FECAL COLIFORM MUCH HIGHER THAN PRESCRIBED LEVELS

HEALTH HAZARDS PRESENCE OF TOXIC WASTE, RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND PRESENCE OF COLIFORM IS EXPECTED TO POSE SERIOUS THREAT TO PEOPLE’S HEALTH. SKIN DISEASES ARE MORE COMMON AND MICRO LEVEL STUDIES INDICATE HIGHER EXPENDITURE (10 TO 20% OF THEIR INCOME) ON MEDICAL HELP AND MEDICINES.

ONE OF THE POLICY ISSUES THAT CAN ACHIEVE SOCIAL EQUITY IN USE OF WATER ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WIN –WIN SITUATION WATER PRICING FOR INDUSTRY PRICING OF WATER FOR INDUSTRY

CURRENT WATER TARIFFS ARE VERY LOW DO NOT COVER CAPITAL CHARGES TARIFF FOR INDUSTRY AND RICH HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD COVER FULL COSTS OF SUPPLYING WATER THESE FULL COSTS INCLUDE : 1. FINANCIAL COSTS OF SUPPLY AND TREATMENT OF WATER (INCLUDING PUMPING) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS (E.G. REGULATORY COSTS SUCH AS THE WATER CESS) 3. OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF WATER IN ALTERNATIVE USES SUCH AS HOUSEHOLDS OR 1.RRIGFATION EXTERNAL COSTS OF WATER POLLUTION IMPOSED ON SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

A RECENT STUDY ON FULL COST PRICING OF WATER IN THE TATA IRON AND STEEL COMPANY IN JAMSHEDPUR, A RANGE OF COST EFFECTIVE POLICY OPTIONS THAT WOULD CONSERVE WATER RESOURCES AND REDUCE WASTEWATER DISCHARGES AT MINIMUM COST TO THE INDUSTRY. PROVIDE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES  TO REDUCE FRESHWATER DEMAND BY 40 PERCENT  AND TO REDUCE /PREVENT WATER POLLUTION. BY INVESTING IN  WATER CONSERVATION EQUIPMENT AND  FOR RECYCLING RE-USE THROUGH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND EFFELUENT TREATMENT PLANTS

Subernarekha River Basin - Issues for Sustainability 1.Understanding the Resources through generation of information base. 2.Perspective towards Integrated Water Resource Management. 3.Proposing for preventive rather than curative strategies. 4.Evolving effective mechanisms for water pricing. 5.Involving stakeholders to generate contextual information and promote dialogue.