Mihir Shah Committee, Recommendations, Steps, Key Details

The Mihir Shah Committee, headed by Mihir Shah, submitted its report in 2016 to reform India’s water management institutions. It examined the functioning of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and suggested restructuring them. The committee proposed creating a National Water Commission for better and integrated management of surface and groundwater resources in India.

About Mihir Shah Committee

• In July 2016, a committee chaired by Mihir Shah presented recommendations to reform India’s key water institutions, namely the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), with the aim of improving water governance in the country.
• The CWC works with state governments to plan and implement projects related to the conservation and use of surface water resources, while the CGWB is responsible for assessing groundwater resources and promoting their sustainable management.
• The committee suggested that these two organisations should be merged and reorganised into a single body called the National Water Commission (NWC). According to the committee, a unified institution would help in better coordination and integrated management of both surface water and groundwater.
• It also recommended that the proposed NWC should focus on water policy, data management, and overall water governance in India. The commission should work under the Ministry of Water Resources, but it should be given sufficient autonomy to function effectively.

Mihir Shah Committee Key Recommendations

• Creation of a National Water Commission (NWC): The committee recommended merging the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) into a single body called the National Water Commission (NWC). A unified institution would help manage surface water and groundwater together and promote sustainable use of water resources.
• Divisions within the National Water Commission: The committee proposed that the NWC should have eight specialised divisions to handle different aspects of water management:
  • Irrigation Reform Division: To support states in improving irrigation systems and water use efficiency.
  • River Rejuvenation Division: To design region-specific programmes for restoring and protecting rivers.
  • Aquifer Mapping and Groundwater Management Division: To implement a National Aquifer Management Programme and assess groundwater resources across the country.
  • Water Security Division: To address issues such as water scarcity, floods, droughts, and ensure basic water availability for people.
  • Urban and Industrial Water Division: To promote technologies for recycling and reuse of wastewater in cities and industries.
  • Water Quality Division: To monitor and reduce pollution in rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
  • Water Data Management and Transparency Division: To create a reliable and open database on water resources for better planning and public access.
  • Knowledge Management and Capacity Building Division: To train professionals and strengthen institutions working in water and land management.
• Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT): The committee recommended that states should mainly build major irrigation infrastructure, while local Water Users Associations of farmers should manage smaller canal systems. This can improve fair distribution of water and reduce wastage.
• Participatory Groundwater Management: Groundwater should be treated as a shared community resource. Measures like regulating well depth, maintaining distance between wells, and promoting suitable cropping patterns should be adopted to prevent over-extraction.
• River Basin Management: The proposed NWC should have regional offices covering all river basins so that surface water and groundwater can be managed together with better scientific and local expertise.

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Steps Taken by the Government for Effective Water Resource Management

The Government of India has launched several programmes and initiatives to ensure better conservation and efficient use of water resources.

• Interlinking of Rivers: The government has proposed the National Plan for Interlinking of Rivers to transfer water from water-surplus river basins to water-deficit regions. The National Water Development Agency has identified around 30 river linking projects under this plan.
• Rural Drinking Water Supply: Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Ministry of Jal Shakti aims to provide safe drinking water through tap connections to every rural household.
• Urban Water Supply Improvement: The government launched the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) to ensure reliable and universal water supply through household tap connections in urban areas.
• Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation: The Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign promotes rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and water conservation across the country.
• Efficient Irrigation in Agriculture: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) encourages efficient use of water in farming through micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems.
• Promotion of Water-Efficient Crops: The Sahi Fasal Programme, launched by the National Water Mission, motivates farmers in water-scarce areas to grow less water-intensive crops suitable to local conditions.
• Sustainable Groundwater Management: The Atal Bhujal Yojana focuses on community participation in managing groundwater resources, especially in regions facing severe water stress.