Citizens Charter of Institute of Water Studies

Water is indispensable for the existence and survival of life on Earth. With the advancement of Civilization, water has found a large and progressively increasing list of uses. Notwithstanding the paramount importance of water, many nations which have a fairly accurate estimate of their oil and mineral wealth., hardly know their total available water resources. The need for such an appraisal did not arise, perhaps because by and large it was not in short supply. But as the demand approaches the available supply, with a probable shortage feared in future, an evaluation of the total available resources and planning its optimum use becomes inevitable.

Already in certain parts of the world, we have reached or we are fast nearing the stage of depleting all our available resources. In other words, water is moving into the realm of economic goods. There is a growing dependency of economy of a Country as a whole on the availability of water. Conservation and utilization of water resources are inextricably bound up with the exploitation of the entire resources heritage of the region and the water resources have some influence on every aspect of national economy. In any country, the main sources of water are the following:

Although water occupies 77% of the surface area of the globe, only a very small portion of this is readily usable by man as fresh water. It has been established that the total quantity of water existent on this planet is constant though it may be constantly under movement and changing from one physical state to another as depicted in the hydrological cycle and man has not found out yet ways of creating more water. Thus the total availability is fixed and the problem generally is now one of estimation of existing resources and their utilization. Accurate estimation, economical extraction and intelligent utilization of water resources are crucial in the development Programme of any Country.

Even advanced countries possessing plentiful water resources have started realizing the need for careful planning in the conservation, utilization and management of water.

The estimation of water resources potential of assumes greater importance under this background. Tamil Nadu has a geographical area of 13.058 Mha against the area of 3.28 Mha of the Country. The population and area of the Tamil Nadu is 7 % and 4% respectively of that of the Country but the available water resources is only 3% of that of the Country. The average rainfall is 925mm against the average rainfall of 1170 mm of the Country. It varies from 1200 mm near coastal area to 550 mm in inland area. In Tamil Nadu more than 90% of the available surface water and 45% of the ground water were drawn and utilized as far as in 1970 itself. But the demand of water is continuously on the rise with the growth of population, Industry and Agriculture where as the availability of water remains almost constant. The need for an integrated approach and planning based on the application of modern technology to initiate investigations and scientific studies on the various aspect of water resources and utilization was keenly felt. With this objective in mind the Institute For Water Studies was established by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu vide G.O. Ms No. 457 PWD dated 08-04-1974.

(i) Development of a set of broad principles for planning and management of water resources;

(iii) Fostering or undertaking research related to planning and policy making in those areas where the needed work is not already being done and co-ordinating the efforts that is already underway;

(iv) Development of training programs particularly in connection with water planning and policy making;

(v) Advice to Government on specific policy matters referred to it such as the development of principles for water allocation on the merits and costs of water diversion schemes and water usage schemes.

In order to assess the water potential of the State river basin was considered as an hydrological unit. In Tamil Nadu there are 34 rivers including minor rivers and west flowing rivers. Institute for Water Studies for the purpose of assessment of water resources, grouped these river basins into 17 major river basins as furnished below.

The 34 rivers and the 17 major river basin groups are shown in figs. (1) to (3) respectively and the individual 16 basins are shown in figure 4 to 18.

For the purpose of assessment of water potentials of the river basins scientifically and for formulating management strategies, the guidance and expertise of foreign on sultan was felt necessary. Further the necessity of training the Institute for Water Studies personnel in abroad to equip themselves with latest technologies and the acquiring of Modern equipments to analyze water quality etc. also was felt.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was approached for assistance for this purpose and the UNDP project was also approved by Government of Tamil Nadu vide G.O Ms.No. 303 PWD dated 15-02-84. The UNDP input for the project is 2.74 Lakhs U.S. dollars and the contribution by Tamil Nadu is Rs. 74 Lakhs. The project duration was 2 years. The project actually commenced in Oct 1983 with the arrival of first UN/DTCD consultant.

The development objective of the project was to assist Tamil Nadu in alleviating water deficiencies in the State by proper management and distribution of water resources for agricultural, domestic, and industrial use. The immediate objectives of the project were:

To carry out assessment, planning, development, and management of water resources of the Vaigai River basin and the adjoining small basins of Pamber and Kottaikaraiyar Rivers on the North and of Gundar River on the South;

To train and expose national professionals and technicians to modern techniques relevant to all aspects of water resources assessment, planning, development, and management.

The project was extended by 15 months, during September 1985 to have additional inputs, activities, outputs, with the following objectives To enable the IWS to effectively support the World Bank financed project ‘Water Resources Management Studies’ in Tamil Nadu: To have sufficient information on water resources in the Pambar, Kottakaraiyar, Gundar, Ponnaiyar and Tambaraparani River basins for the Water Resources Management Studies Project. The UNDP contribution to the project was increased to US $ 466,000.

During 22 October 1986 Project was revised and approved by UNDP extending the project further by 16 months from January 1987 through April 1988, and added to the project additional inputs, outputs, activities, and the following additional objectives:

To enable the IWS to assess the total water resources and then identify the exploitable drinking water resources for the people in the drought –prone river basins of Tamil Nadu, such as the Vellar, Vaippar, and Nambiyar basins;

To effectively support the World Bank Project IND/85/X01, ‘Water Resources Management Studies’ in Tamil Nadu. UNDP contribution to the project was increased to US $ 6,25,000. The total UNDP input to this project was $ 6,32,497 and Government input was Rs. 86,70,000.

The list of UNDP consultants who had served in IWS and the total duration of their work between Oct 83 to April 88 under project no. DP/ UN/IND/82-058/I (1983) is furnished below.

Sl.No.	Name, Nationality & Job Title	Period of Service in months
1	Dr.V.Bansky, Czechoslovakia, Chief Technical Adviser.	37.3
2	Dr.Warren.A.Hall, United States of America, Water Resources System Analyst.	0.3
3	Mrs.L.G.Bubenickova, Czechoslovakia, Hydrologist.	1.0
4	Dr.O.K.Buros, United States of America, Non – Conventional Water Resource Specialist.	0.5
5	Mr..Miguel Solanes, UN/DTCD, Water Legislation Specialist,	0.6
6	Dr.David Plinston, United Kingdom, Water Resource System Analyst.	2.5
7	Dr.Uri Golani, UN/DTCD, Adviser on Water Resources.	2.2
Under UNDP Project No. IND-85-X01-WRMS Project Phase – I (1986-89)
1	Mr. David T. Ruxton Chief Technical Adviser	12.0
2	Mr. G. Roy Elmore Chief Technical Adviser	23.4
3	Mr. James O. Robertson Water Resources Planner	20.0
4	Mr. William M. Clerk Irrigation Engineer	3.9
5	Mr. Alan C. Towart Water Supply Engineer	3.6
6	Mr. Christopher Walters Engineering Economist	1.4
7	Mr. George E. Radosevich Legal / Institutional Adviser	2.3
8	Mr. Douglas S. Thornton Agro Economist	4.2
9	Mr. Brian G. hoyle Water Quality / Reuse	9.0
10	Mr. Warren A.Hall Water Management	0.8
11	Mr. Micheal C.D.La Touche Water Management	6.3
12	Mr. Kenneth j. Edwrthy Ground Water Pollution	3.0

Besides 11 of the staff of this Institute were trained aboard for a period ranging from Two months to Four 4 and a half months in the field of Advanced Hydrology, Water Resource management, Computer Application Modeling, Water Resources System Analysis, Artificial Recharge, Non-Conventional Water Resources, Wastewater Treatment and Recycling, Advanced Hydrogeology, Hydrogen chemistry and Advanced Geophysics. The project also strengthened the Institute with Buildings, necessary Hydro-Chemical testing equipments like Atomic absorption spectrometer, Scalar Analyzer, Digital Sampler and other equipments like flow measuring devices, Computers, Computer software's etc.

In the just described background of input of Foreign Expert Consultancy, trained personal and with modern facilities, the Water Management studies for the basins titled below were completed.

Assistance was received from this project in the preparation of ‘Ground Water Act’ for Tamil Nadu with the UNDP Expert’s assistance. Thus the Institute for Water Studies became a modern water resources studies center that can play a major role in the assessment, planning and management of the limited water resources. Some of the Major research project done by Institute for Water Studies are titled below.

Under phase I of the Water Resources Management Studies (WRMS), studies were completed in Ponnaiyar, Vaigai and Tambaraparani River Basins from Sept 1986 to June 1989 under the guidance of UNDP/DTCD with the assistance of World Bank (Credit – 1454 IN) as stated earlier.

The International Development Association (I.D.A) had made available credit facilities towards the project cost under phase I. An amount of U.S. $ 1,318,000 was given to United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development by the World Bank to provide international expertise and equipments. The national counterpart expenditure was Rs. 60,98,000. The phase I of the project studies came to an end 30-06-1989. The Institute for Water Studies is associated with the management studies in other basins.

The project had two resident international experts and 9 short-term consultants.

A brief resume of work done under phase I by the Water Resources Management Studies Project is furnished below. The available water resources of the study basins have been evaluated.

1. The water consumption for irrigation, industries and domestic water supply sectors have been worked out for the base year 1986.

2. The water demand by 2011 AD for three major sectors of water uses have been assessed.

3. Pilot schemes for urban water supply have been prepared for each basin and water sources for these schemes have been tentatively identified.

4. The water quality conditions and vulnerability of aquifers being contaminated by indiscriminate disposal of industrial (trade) wastes and sewerage effluents have been reviewed.

5. The simulation model studies have been accomplished for the study basins and water balance worked out. The Institute for Water Studies has conducted training courses in the use and operation of simulation model to the technical officers of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, Chennai Metropolitan and Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Public Works Department of Government of Tami l Nadu.

6. The water management strategies and institutional framework required for effective management of available water resources have been evolved for implementation.

7. The project evolved a proposal for the formation of “Water Resources Council” in Tamil Nadu to manage the water resources available in the state and submitted to Government for further action.

8. The legal and Institutional Adviser has drafted a comprehensive draft “Water Resources Act for Tamil Nadu” to regulate and effectively manage the available water resources. This Act would provide a statutory backing and institutional framework for development, management and conservation of water resources in the State Water Resources Assessment of the Palar River Basin

With the technical expertise gained after the completion of the UNDP project and WRMS Phase (I) project assessment of water resources of Palar River Basin was taken up with the funds provided by Tamil Nadu, from May 88 and was completed during March 1990.

Similarly the study of water resources potential of Parambikulam – Aliyar Project Area was taken up and completed between April 1990 and March 1992.

Having been impressed by the usefulness of the WRMS (Phase I) project reports prepared by IWS, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board requested Institute for Water Studies to conduct similar Management studies for Vaippar, Nambiyar and Kodaiyar river basins, and an amount of Rs. 100 Lakhs was spared by the World Bank under Credit – 1454 IN – Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Sanitation Project.

The project commenced on 20-04-1992 and was completed in Oct 1994. The project mainly aimed to provide sustainable drinking water sources to all Municipal and Rural Population.

The World Bank Mission during their visit in during 93 requested Institute for Water Studies to prepare a rapid assessment of the water resources potential of the remaining 5 river basins that were not assessed till that date, so that a State Frame Work Water Resources Plan of Tamil Nadu could be prepared for managing the water resources effectively.

Accordingly rapid assessment reports on “Water Resources assessment and Management Strategies” for Chennai Basin, Varahanadhi River Basin, Agniyar River Basin and Kallar River Basin were prepared during the period 1994 to 1995.

After completion of the water Resources potential of the river basins except Cauvery River Basin, the preparation of the State Frame Work Water Resources Plan of Tamil Nadu was taken up by IWS.

The State Frame Work Water Resources Plan main report and 20 number Annexures dealing with individual river basins and other aspects were compiled during 1996 to 1998 with updated details.

Before finalizing the Frame Work Water Resources Plan, ‘Stake holders’ meetings were conducted in each river basins to obtain the views of local officers of water using departments regarding the problems faced in the basin, the water requirement of their department in meeting the needs of the concerned sector, etc. The local farmers were invited to these ‘Stake Holders’ meetings and the views expressed by them were taken into consideration while preparing the State Frame Work Water Resources Plan (SFWWRP) Reports. In total 18 number of stake Holders meeting were held at the rate of minimum of one meeting in each river basin as furnished below:

A one-day seminar was held during Aug.99 at Institute for Water Studies inviting all the Water Using Departments in order to obtain their views and suggestions for improving the contents of this report. Besides Government Departments, Professors from Universities and others participated in the meeting.

Based on the suggestions made in the Seminar, the Water Resources Plan was redrafted and a ‘Two day’ seminar was held at IWS on 02-05-2000 and 03-05-2000, in which the World Bank consultations also took part beside representation from Government departments, Universities and Farmers.

The views expressed by these Experts are now being studied and is being incorporated to the maximum extent possible.

In the context of ever growing demand of Water for Agriculture and Industries besides domestic water, it is essential to safeguard and conserve the available water resources from pollution as the reversal of this process once occurred is not only costly and time consuming but also some times irreversible.

Further, a number of new irrigation schemes are formulated and the existing irrigation systems are being modernized. These require Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment. Hence in order to give guidance and advice to WRO, an Environmental Unit has been established in the Institute for Water Studies on the advice of World Bank consultants for WRCP, with the following objectives.

(i) Advising the Government on all policy matters including preparing guidelines procedures and codes contributing to new policy or legislation concerning environment;

(ii) Liaising with all Central and State Government and Non Governmental organizations concerned with environmental issues;

(iii) Preparing list of environmental experts and reviewing Environmental Impact Assessment reports related to water resources projects before they are presented to the Government for approval;

(iv) Managing research programmes on environment aspects in basin with other Government research agencies and universities and

In order to assess the Environmental status of Tamil Nadu, this Unit has conducted 4 seminar in Chennai, Pollachi, and Tirunelveli and documented the present Status of Environment in the State.