Madhya Pradesh State Water Policy 2003.

This Madhya Pradesh State Water Policy 2003, as a sectoral policy document, is formulated in accordance to the guidelines and general directions in the National Water Policy, keeping in view the specific necessity for the Madhya Pradesh State.
The water resources development shall be planned on the basis of river basin or sub-basin. In terms of establishment of water zones and water shed management, on the basis of availability of water the state shall primarily be divided into three regions (East, Central and West). Special attention shall be given to catchment area treatment and water shed management. Watershed management shall also include soil conservation, catchment area treatment, forest conservation and afforestation programme. To improve soil-recharging capacity, plantation by demarcating green belts shall be done, wherever possible.
Regarding to the planning and operation of system water allocation, priorities shall be as: 1. Drinking water supply; 2. Irrigation and afforestation; 3. Power generation/industrial and other uses; 4. Tourism. In terms of drinking water and quality control, the facility of sufficient drinking water shall be extended to the entire urban and rural population. The quality of the surface water and ground water shall be tested on regular basis by concerned departments. It should be made mandatory to treat the industrial and urban waste to the required standards before these are allowed to flow in a stream. The necessary laws should be formulated for protecting the water resources from unauthroised encroachment and also for maintaining the standard quality of water. Regarding to the ground water development, availability of ground water potential should be assessed after every ten years compulsorily and exploitation of ground water should be controlled on the scientific basis; and priority should be given to exploitation of ground water resources for drinking water purposes.
In water resources planning, amongst the available options/alternatives, optimum cost benefit alternative shall be selected. The policies of land use and its levelling shall be co-related with the policy of water use. Irrigation potential shall be utilised to the maximum, so that the gap between irrigation potential and actual Irrigation can be reduced. The provision shall be made to provide irrigation on priority basis in the fields of marginal and small farmers.
In addition, master Plan shall be prepared for flood-affected areas for controlling the flood and providing protection. The additional storage capacity of water shall be provided in the reservoirs for accommodating the flood water. Erosion of soil caused by the rivers shall be minimized by adopting economical remedial measures.