Incentivizing Water use Efficiency-Virtual Water Approach

Improving the performance of completed Major and Medium Irrigation (MMI) schemes has been the main focus of the National Water Mission (NWM) and set a target of increasing the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) by 20% in the current plan period. WUE studies carried out by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on 30 MMI schemes indicates that in nine schemes WUE was less than 30 percent and the average was 38 percent. The NWM and 12^th FYP targets the average figure would need to rise to 46% by the end of the plan period. Irrigation project wise efforts are needed on (a) Water Management under Scarce Conditions, (b) Large Scale Implementation of Water Saving Technologies, (c) Promotion of Micro Irrigation in canal commands, (d) Incentivizing Water Saving (e) Accounting Multiple Uses of Water and (f) Analysis of Economic Value. Irrigation projects are serving important sectors apart from irrigation. It needs to accurately mapped and estimated the water utilized in various sectors and their economic contribution for economy. Water Footprints and Virtual Water concepts need to be encouraged for assessing and improving the projects performance. Water Credits can be introduced in irrigation projects as a tool towards incentivizing water saving.