Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UDN): The Odisha Government has initiated the implementation of the State Water Reforms Framework (SWRF), a benchmarking initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, aimed at improving water governance, promoting sustainable resource management, and enhancing institutional efficiency in the water sector.
The framework will help strengthen coordination among various government departments, encourage scientific and data-driven planning, and improve monitoring of water conservation and management programmes across the State.
The Department of Water Resources, through a communication issued on July 10, 2026, has requested active participation from concerned departments and agencies for effective implementation of the framework. The initiative involves departments including Housing & Urban Development, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Tourism, the State Pollution Control Board, and the Central Ground Water Board.
The SWRF comprises 75 reform indicators covering five key areas — Policy and Regulation, Project Monitoring, Digitalisation and Research & Development, Infrastructure, and Information, Education, Communication (IEC) and Community Engagement.
The framework aims to assess the progress of States and Union Territories in adopting reforms related to water management, with focus on improving regulatory systems, strengthening project monitoring, expanding digital interventions, upgrading infrastructure, and encouraging community participation in water conservation.
As part of the implementation process, Odisha will conduct an initial gap assessment to identify areas requiring improvement and undertake corrective measures by December 31, 2026. The State will submit verified responses along with supporting documents by January 31, 2027.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti will review and validate the submissions, following which national rankings under the framework are expected to be announced in April 2027.
To ensure effective execution, the State Government has directed departments to appoint Nodal Officers at the level of Additional Secretary or above. These officers will oversee departmental assessments, coordinate compliance with reform indicators, and ensure timely submission of required information.
The Department of Water Resources has highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among departments to successfully implement the framework and build a more efficient, sustainable, and transparent water management system in Odisha.
Leave a Reply