Union Cabinet of India declared Year 2013 as Water Conservation Year 2013

2013: Water Conservation Year

The Union Cabinet of India on 9 May 2013 gave its approval to declare the year 2013 as Water Conservation Year 2013.

Following the theme of the year, the Government has proposed to come up with several mass awareness activities with an emphasis on sensitizing the masses on water issues and to encourage them to use water judiciously and conserve it. The Policies and programs of the Ministry of Water Resource for the year will be to create a sustainable society and economy.

The national awareness programs launched by the Government will aim towards achieving the identified objectives of the National Water Policy 2012 and National Water Mission.

National Water Policy 2012
National Water Policy 2012 was adopted by the National Water Resources Council headed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28 December 2012. The Policy takes cognizance of the existing situation and proposes a framework for creation of a system of laws and institutions and a plan of action with a unified national perspective.

National Water Mission
The key objective of National Water Mission is water conservation. It is among the eight national missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change. The mission aims towards conservation of water by minimizing wastage and to develop formulae for impartial distribution of the water resources both in and across the states via integrated water resources development and management.