Himachal Pradesh State Water Policy 2013.

This Himachal Pradesh State Water Policy 2013 is a sectoral policy document at the state level.
The Policy contributes to helping eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. According to the Policy, in the planning and operation of systems, water allocation priorities would be broadly as follows: 1.Drinking water & sanitation; 2.Irrigation; 3. Ecology/ aforestation/biodiversity/tourism; 4. Hydro-power 5. Agro-ind ustries; 6. Non-agro-based industries; 7.Navigation and other uses.
The Policy contributes to making agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable. Priorities are set up in the State Water Policy. One of the priorities is: Promoting water shed management through extensive soil conservation, catchment-area treatment, preservation of forests and increasing the forest cover and the construction of check-dams and trenching along with efforts to conserve the precipitation in the catchment area itself. Efficiency of utilization in all the diverse uses of water should be ensured and awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered. Water resources should be conserved and the availability augmented by maximizing retention in the catchment area, minimizing pollution and avoiding wastage. Water quality parameters for different uses such as drinking, domestic uses, livestock, irrigation, etc. shall be specified/notified by the competent authority & shall continuously be reviewed with a view to effecting improvement in water quality. The quality of both surface & ground water shall be regularly monitored. Ground water recharge projects will be developed and implemented for improving both the quality and availability of ground water resources.
The Policy contributes to reduction of rural poverty. The state recognizes that every individual has a right to a minimum quantity of potable water for essential health & hygiene & within easy reach of the household. Needs of human beings and domestic animals shall be the first charge on any available source of water. Adequate, safe and sustainable drinking water facilities will be provided to the entire population both in urban and rural areas. Exploitation of ground water resources shall be so regulated as not to exceed the recharging possibilities, as also to ensure social equity.