Approval Date: 1999

The water policy of the government aims to provide direction to all agencies working with the water sector, and institutions that relate to the water sector in one form or another, for the achievement of specified objectives. These objectives are- to address issues related to the harnessing and development of all forms of surface water and groundwater and the management of these resources efficiently and equitably; to ensure the availability of water to all elements of society including the poor and the underprivileged, to take into account the particular needs of women and children; To accelerate the development of sustainable public and private water delivery systems with appropriate legal and financial measures and incentives, including delineation of water rights and water pricing; to bring institutional changes that will help decentralize the management of water resources and enhance the role of women in water management; to develop a legal and regulatory environment that will help the process of decentralization, sound environmental management, and improve the investment climate for the private sector in water development and management; and finally to develop a state of knowledge and capability that will enable the country to design future water resources management plans by itself with economic efficiency, gender equity, social justice, and environmental awareness to facilitate the achievement of the water management objectives through broad public participation.