Why Composite Water Management Index Report is important?

NITI Aayog, the Indian government’s think tank, is contemplating discontinuing a key water report that was launched five years ago. The report, known as the ‘Composite Water Management Index’ (CWMI), was first introduced in June 2018 and has been instrumental in highlighting India’s water challenges.

Indian water report may end

Three ministries — Water Resources, Drinking Water & Sanitation, and Rural Development collaborated to prepare the CWMI report, which ranks states based on their water management efficacy across 28 parameters.

The first edition of the report provided data for 2015-16 and 2016-17, while the second edition, launched in August 2019, covered the year 2017-18.

However, the reports for 2018-19 and 2019-20 have been marked for “internal use” and have not been publicly released. In May this year, NITI Aayog sought the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s perspective on the “use and applicability” of the Index and whether the CWMI should continue. The Ministry has yet to respond, and the third and fourth editions of the report are still awaiting release.

The latest report maps the performance of states for 2018-19 and 2019-20 and indicates that water scarcity is a "national problem". The Jal Shakti Ministry predicts the average annual per capita water availability will reduce to 1,486 cubic meters per person per year by 2021 from 1,545 cubic meters per person per year in 2011. The annual water availability norms specify that an availability value of less than 1,700 cubic meter/person/year indicates water shortage. They consider water availability below 1,000 cubic metre/capita/year as "scarcity".

Why Water Management Index is crucial?

The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report, launched by NITI Aayog, plays a crucial role in India's water management efforts. Furthermore, the report, which ranks states based on their water management efficacy across 28 parameters, provides valuable insights into the country's water challenges.

It covers various aspects of water management, including groundwater and surface water restoration, irrigation methods, drinking water, policy, and governance.

The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) serves several vital purposes. Firstly, it creates awareness among people and governments about the realities of the water crisis in the country. Moreover, it promotes the spirit of "competitive and cooperative federalism" in the country, fostering collaboration among states. Additionally, the CWMI ensures sustainable and effective management of water resources.

Furthermore, it involves all key stakeholders, allowing them to understand how states can better manage water resources collectively. By assessing and improving the performance of states and union territories in efficient water resource management, it actively contributes to the nation's overall progress.

Moreover, the CWMI establishes a clear baseline and benchmark for state-level performance on key water indicators. This benchmark aids in measuring progress and uncovering how states have evolved in addressing water issues over time. This, in turn, assists in identifying high-performers and under-performers, further facilitating targeted actions and improvements in water management.

On an average, 80% of the states assessed on the Index over the last three years have improved their water management scores, with an average improvement of +5.2 points. 

Given the increasing water scarcity in India, the report's findings have particular significance. The Index promotes 'competitive and cooperative federalism' in the country, and ensures the sustainable and effective management of water resources.

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