Conservation of Water by Industries
Government has proposed to set up an agency to encourage conservation of water by industries and the proposal to set up National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency inter alia envisages taking necessary steps to improve water use efficiency and encourage conservation of water in agriculture, domestic and industrial sectors.
The National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development had in its report (1999) assessed the demand of water in industry as 67 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) and 81 (BCM) by the years 2025 and 2050. In view of the growing demand of water due to population growth, rapid industrialization and urbanisation, there is a need to conduct audit of water consumption by industries to ensure optimum utilisation of available water resources.
The Government has formulated National Manufacturing Policy which, inter-alia, stipulates mandatory water audit for industrial and institutional units in National Investment and Manufacturing Zones.
The Revised Draft National Water Policy( 2012) recommends that recycling and reuse of water, including return flows, should be the general norm. The Draft Policy further recommends that recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards, should be incentivized through a properly planned tariff system National Water Mission has also been launched with the objective of ‘ conservation of water, minimizing wastage, and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management “. One of the Goals of National Water Mission is “increasing water use efficiency by 205’ across all sectors, including industries. Besides, National water Mission aims at providing incentives for water neutral and water positive technologies to industries.
This information was given by Union Water Resources Minister Shri Harish Rawat in the Lok Sabha today in reply to a written question whether the Government has proposed to set up an agency to encourage conservation of water by industries; whether the demand of water by industries is too high and there is a need to conduct an audit of water consumption by them; the steps the Government proposes to take to ensure that industries across the country are adopting water conservation methods; whether the Government has set a rule for all industries to use recycled water and for zero discharge of waste water; and the policies and action taken in this regard?
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