G.O. (Ms) No. 46, Constitution of Executive Wing of SWaRMA, 2013

What the document does

G.O. (Ms) No. 46 dated 4 April 2013, issued by the Public Works (WR1) Department, concerns the State Water Resources Management Agency, known as SWaRMA. The agency was established as the statewide focal body for environmentally and socially sustainable management of water resources across sectors.

The stated objectives are to improve institutional capacity for sustainable water resources management and to manage Tamil Nadu's water resources through a holistic river basin framework.

Organisational changes

G.O. (Ms) No. 46 records proposals for a revised SWaRMA organisation chart. The structure includes:

• A State Water Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, with the Secretary of the Public Works Department as convenor.
• Membership for senior officials from the Finance Department, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Agriculture Department, Industries Department, Environment and Forest Department, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.
• An Advisory Committee comprising heads of departments, chaired by the Secretary of the Public Works Department.
• An Executive Wing headed by a Director who is a water resources expert.
• A working group of 14 personnel redeployed from different wings of the Water Resources Department.
• Seven specialists or consultants covering hydrology, agronomy or water technology, hydrogeology, socioeconomics, environment, geographic information systems and legal advice.
• Four data entry operators and one stenographer on a contract basis.

Main functions

The State Water Resources Management Agency is intended to:

• Advise the Government of Tamil Nadu on water policies.
• Develop and share water resources information and analytical tools, including geographic information systems and decision support systems.
• Support stakeholder consultation and river basin management planning.
• Advise on water allocation for bulk users.
• Develop a State water allocation database.
• Prepare and publish an annual water audit for each river basin.
• Review State and river basin master plans and appraise surface water resources within hydrological boundaries.
• Support the protection and improvement of water quality.
• Work with existing water management rules or suggest changes to them.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

G.O. (Ms) No. 46 deals with government administration and water resources planning. It does not set out procedures for land ownership, registration, patta, building approval or change of land use. Its potential relevance is to broader government decisions concerning river basins, water allocation and water quality.