Political

Water Initiatives Orissa (WIO) and the Indian River Network (IRN) organised the Odisha River Conference during 18 - 20 April 2009 at Sambalpur Odisha, in which about 75 participants including activists, environmentalists, journalists, academicians, researchers and civil society representatives from across the country participated.

The Third South Asia Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN 2008), organised by Government of India, was held in New Delhi, during November 16-21, 2008, with the theme as "Sanitation for Dignity and Health".

The Human Development Report 2006 rejects the view that the global water crisis is about absolute shortages of physical supply. It argues that the roots of the crisis in water can be traced to poverty, inequality and unequal power relationships, as well as flawed water management policies that exacerbate scarcity. 

Report of steering committee on drinking water supply and sanitation for tenth five year plan

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 aims to provide for the levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by persons carrying on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the Central Board and the State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution constituted under the Water (Prevention

Planning commsision releases september 2007 report of the expert group on "Ground Water Management and Ownership". The report looks primarily at the problem of rural depletion of groundwater and looked into the feasibility and necessity of changing groundwater law.

This paper by WaterAid India is an assessment of the drinking water and sanitation situation in the country in terms of coverage and financing gaps, if any, keeping the targets of the Millennium Development Goals as a benchmark for the assessment.

This paper by WaterAid India highlights the progress, key issues and challenges and recommendations for improving sanitation coverage with special focus on the poor. It is based on the experience of WaterAid India, other major sector agencies and NGOs and also takes into consideration the programme of state and national governments of India for sanitation promotion.

While recognizing that the urban sector is a State subject (administered by State governments), and water and sanitation are local issues with predominantly local solutions, the Government of India (GoI) believes it has an important and useful role to play in facilitating reforms in urban water supply and sanitation services. This is because:

The economic and administrative implications of implementing new water legislation mean that certain elements will be most efficiently implemented through a phased process according to the social, economic and technical circumstances prevailing in each water region/catchment. Specific mechanisms will be required for a smooth transition from the present system to the new.