NEW DELHI, MAY 19 (PTI): Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil on Tuesday launched the State Water Reforms Framework (SWRF), an initiative aimed at strengthening water governance reforms across states and Union territories (UTs).
Patil also chaired the 14th meeting of the High-Powered Review Board (HPRB) of the Brahmaputra Board, which reviewed the progress made in river basin management, flood and erosion control, springshed rejuvenation, digital transformation, institutional reforms and capacity building.
Addressing the gathering after launching the SWRF in Guwahati, Patil said water security is central to India’s development journey and a key pillar for achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047”.
He said sustainable water management requires not only infrastructure creation but also robust governance systems, sound policies, strong institutions, technological innovation and community participation.
The newly launched SWRF is a reform-oriented governance framework developed to encourage and benchmark water sector reforms across states and UTs, the Jal Shakti Ministry said in a statement.
Embodying the spirit of cooperative federalism, the framework has been designed in consultation with states and UTs, recognising water as a shared national resource that demands collective ownership, collaborative governance and joint accountability between the Centre and the states and UTs, it added.
The framework comprises 75 indicators across five dimensions — policy and regulation, project monitoring, digitalisation and research, infrastructure, and community engagement.
According to the ministry, the framework seeks to encourage reforms in areas such as groundwater regulation, floodplain zoning, wastewater reuse, dam safety, participatory irrigation management, river basin planning and institutional strengthening. States and UTs have been given time till December 31, 2026, to undertake reforms and submit responses on the indicators by January 31, 2027, the ministry said. It said the Brahmaputra Board has identified 76 river basins and sub-basins for preparation and updation of masterplans covering the Brahmaputra and Barak basins using technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, LiDAR and hydrological modelling.
The HPRB also reviewed ongoing and proposed projects related to flood management, anti-erosion works, drainage development, springshed management and water conservation in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.
The meeting also deliberated on the proposed transformation of the Brahmaputra Board into a technology-driven and knowledge-based River Basin Organization (RBO), with discussions on organisational restructuring, strengthening specialised technical units, digital governance initiatives and institutional reforms.
The review board further discussed a proposed revitalisation plan for the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NEHARI) and redevelopment of the Brahmaputra Board office complex at Basistha in Guwahati.
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, senior officials of the Centre and northeastern states, technical experts and stakeholders attended the meeting.
