MAJOR WATER REFORMS THAT INDIA SHOULD LEARN FROM ISRAEL

 

There are certain reforms that India can learn from Israel, these are

Drip Irrigation:

India has been focusing on ‘Har Khet ko Paani’, ‘more crop per drop’, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna. India has about nine million hectares under micro-irrigation. However it is small compared to the overall need of micro-irrigation. India can scale this up several times. Israel can offer lessons to India in this respect.

 

Waste Water recycling and cleaning of polluted water:

Maximum of water in Israel comes from recycled and brackish water, thus saving potable water for domestic use. India hence can learn from Israel.

 

Desalination:

Jamnagar Salination Plant, Gujarat and Nemmali Salination Plant, Chennai have adopted desalination techniques from Israel. These are joint Indo-Israeli initiatives in desalinating sea waters. Desalination techniques however involve huge capital cost and require resources for this. Desalination is in nascent stage in India and a public policy issue.

 

Water price reforms:

As per Israel’s water law, all water in the country is common property resource. The government does accounting for every drop of water, ensuring good water governance.