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Present status on MoU There are 11 MoUs signed by the Ministry for bilateral cooperation in water sector, as follows: Australia (1) Rwanda (1) Cambodia (1) Iraq (1) Iran (1) Fiji (1) China (4) Bahrain (1) 2

Procedure for signing of MoU Proposal is received/mooted by either side for entering into a MoU. All the MoUs (except some MoU with China) are about sharing of technical expertise and experiences on water resources. Two MoUs with China are about sharing of hydrological data on Brahmaputra and Sutlej during flood season every year. After consulting all stakeholders, viz. all our offices/agencies, a draft is prepared/proposed by the Ministry. If the draft involves legal and other issues viz. IPR, subjects of other Ministries etc, the Law Ministry, Deptt of Commerce and the concerned Ministry/Deptt respectively are consulted. Our draft MoU is sent to the other country through Ministry of External Affairs for concurrence of the country. 3

Procedure for MoU (Contd.) As per extant instructions, every agreement/MoU with a foreign country requires prior approval of the Cabinet except in cases – (i) scientific /cultural agreements not impacting national security or our foreign relations and (ii) foreign aid or commercial agreements which are within the broad framework already approved by the Cabinet. In cases of scientific/cultural agreements, approval of Hon’ble Minister of line Ministry and External Affairs’ Minister (EAM) is required. Further, Legal and Treaties Division of MEA also vets the MoU. If L&T Division of MEA declares our proposed MoU a scientific agreement, we can proceed for signing of the MoU after obtaining approval of Hon’ble Minister (WR, RD & GR) and EAM. 4

Status of existing MoUs MoU with Australia An MoU with Australia for cooperation in water resources development and management, both surface and groundwater, and particularly river basin management and impact of climate change on water resources was signed on (for a period of five years). As per provisions of the MoU, a Joint Working Group was formed to implement and monitor the activities under the MoU. At present, the JWG is working to prepare Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for Brahmani Baitarani River Basin. Commissioner (SP) is the leader of the Indian side of JWG. 5

MoU with Australia (contd.) The MoU has been renewed on for a period of five years during the visit of Australian Prime Minister to India. 3 rd formal meeting of the Joint Working Group was held on at New Delhi to review the ongoing cooperation and future road ahead. During this meeting, the Australian side also offered their cooperation in Ganga rejuvenation project. The Ministry has to examine the Australian proposal further once some more details are given by the Australia, as decided in the meeting. 6

MoU with Cambodia MoU with Cambodia on cooperation in water resources management was signed on for a period of five years. It has been renewed in December, 2012 for another five years. A Joint Working Group having five members of both the countries has been constituted to monitor the activities under the MoU. Commissioner (SP) is leader of Indian side of JWG. Areas of cooperation include Basin-wise Water Resources Assessment; Water use efficiency management in irrigation sector; capacity building for efficient water management; management, exploration, augmentation of ground water resources; basic hydrology. This Ministry has been requesting the Cambodian side for holding of first meeting and the reply is awaited. 7

MoU with Rwanda MoU with Rwanda on cooperation in Water Resources Management and Development was signed between Hon’ble Minister (WR) and Rwandan Minister of Agriculture & Animal Resources on 22 nd January, 2013 at New Delhi. The MoU is valid for a period of five years. The MoU was conceptualised during the visit of Secretary (WR) to Rwanda in Main areas of cooperation includes marshland and hillside irrigation, watershed management, water governance, irrigation projects proposals techniques, crop water requirements, water use efficiency, water prices, preservation of river corridors and water bodies, training and capacity building of farmers and functionaries in water management. The Joint Commission has been constituted and its first meeting is expected soon. JS(A&GW) is leader of the Indian side of JC. 8

MoU with Iran During 17 th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting, a MoU with Iran in the field of Water Resources Management was signed on 4 th May, 2013 for a period of five years. The MoU proposes cooperation through sharing of technical experiences on the development and management of water resources, both surface and ground water, particularly in respect of traditional system of water conservation, groundwater recharge, drought and impact of climate change on water resources. Constitution of JWG is under process. We have been requesting the MEA for obtaining names for JWG from Iran and the reply is awaited. 9

MoU with Iraq The process of MoU was started at the request of Iraq. During the visit of Hon’ble Minister of Iraq to India, the MoU in the field of Water Resources Development and Management was signed on 23 rd August, 2013 for a period of five years. The MoU proposes cooperation through sharing of expertise in project hydrology, remote sensing, GIS in hydrology, flood and drought management, irrigation and drainage, hydrometerology, dam safety, reservoir regulation, etc. JWG has been constituted in September 2014 to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU. Economic Adviser is leader of the Indian side of this JWG. 10

MoU with Fiji During the visit of Finance Minister of Fiji to India, a MoU with Fiji was signed at New Delhi on 12 February 2014 for bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources management and development. The MoU is for 5 years. Both the parties shall engage in joint activities in the areas of development and management of water resources, both surface and groundwater, for sustainable agriculture development. A Joint Working Group to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU has been formed in March Comm(SP) is head of Indian side of JWG. 11

MoU with Bahrain At the time of visit of HE King of Bahrain to India in February 2013, Bahraini side proposed to sign a MoU for bilateral cooperation in water and power sectors. But it could not be finalised due to less time available. During the India-Bahrain High Level Joint Commission Meeting, the MoU has since been signed on 22 nd February, 2015 at New Delhi. The MoU (valid for 5 years) seeks bilateral cooperation in water resources development and management through the sharing of technical expertise and experiences. 12

MoUs with China We are having three MoUs with China at present. Two MoUs are about sharing of Hydrological Information on Brahmaputra and Sutlej during flood season (B&B Wing) First MoU is on Brahmaputra, it was signed on and was renewed on for a period of five years. Second MoU is on Sutlej, it was signed on and was renewed on for a period of five years. Another MoU was signed on for a period of five years for cooperation on trans-border rivers, Expert-Level Mechanism on provision of flood-season hydrological data and emergency management (B&B Wing) 13

MoU with Israel Draft MoU with State of Israel to enhance cooperation at the national, regional and international levels in the field of Water Resources Management and Development has been vetted by Ministry of External Affairs. It envisages collaboration and sharing of expertise on techniques in efficient use of water, micro-irrigation, recycling/re-use of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge and in-situ water conservation techniques. Israeli side has recently offered some changes in the MoU and at present, MoWR,RD&GR is examining the amended version of Agreement. 14

Other MoUs MoUs with Hungary and Morocco for cooperation in the field of water resources management are also under consideration. Both the MoUs are about sharing of expertise and experience in various fields relating to water resources. In case of Morocco, we have sent draft version of the MoU to Ministry of External Affairs for seeking concurrence of the respective Governments. The proposal of MoU received from Hungarian Govt is under consideration in the Ministry at present. 15

Relevance of MoU Most of the MoUs are initiated during visits ( either during our Ministers/senior officers’ visit abroad or visits to India by foreign dignitaries). All the MoUs (except 2 MoUs with China) envisage bilateral cooperation by sharing of expertise and experiences by way of exchange of experts, capacity building, joint preparation of water related plans in such areas etc. where both the sides are mutually benefitted. Except in case of Australia and China, in all the other MoUs there is no actual progress besides formation of JWG/JC. Ministry has no separate funds/head for incurring expenditure on activities/meetings relating to the MoUs. Funds under FTE are utilised for meetings abroad of JWG/JC. 16

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