The Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, which met today approved in principle the National Water Mission and suggested that its basic approach should be to make water conservation a peoples' movement in India. For this it is essential to make available all data on water in the public domain to be able to mobilise citizens, local and State Governments for focused action on water conservation and augmentation.

The Prime Minister chairing the Council highlighted the need to create a general consciousness of the need to use water in the most sustainable manner. Given the fact that there are multiple uses for water and an integrated approach based on basin development planning needs to be evolved, he said that political leadership at the local body level, state level and civil society organizations need to be involved in activities of the Water Mission.

Ministers and other members of the Council endorsed these views. It was stated that the first step in this direction would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and assessing the impact of climate change on water. Action needs to be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water is overexploited. It was also decided that water use efficiency should be raised by 20% through the promotion of water- positive and water- neutral technologies.

Members felt that a structure of incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner. It was also felt that the Research and Development requirements of the Mission should be focused upon.

Many Members stressed the need to use the opportunities from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which already prioritizes community-level water security as the first charge in MGNREGA which is being led by panchayats and offers an opportunity to convert water conservation into a peoples movement.

The Ministers of Finance, Power, Water Resources, Non- Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister (Independent Charge) Environment and Forest and Members of the Council were present in the Meeting.