The Government of Karnataka (GoK) and 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) launched the Karnataka Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Water (MSP – Water), with the aim to collectively drive concrete and impactful programs, projects and policies for water sustainability through partnership-based approaches.

The launch meeting of the Karnataka MSP – Water, held in May 2017, was chaired by the Chief Secretary, GOK, and attended by key representatives including (select list only):

• Government departmental heads (e.g. Principal Secretary, Water Resources; Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development; Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce);
• Key private sector partners (e.g. Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Karnataka State Council; President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI)); and
• Civil society/ academia (e.g. Arghyam, Indian Institute of Science)

The meeting endorsed the ongoing agenda of 2030WRG’s engagement in the state, ratified the governance framework of the Agri Water Use Efficiency and Urban Water workstreams, and supported accelerated implementation of ongoing and new initiatives.

The Steering Board agreed to support the implementation of the ‘Drip Irrigation in Sugarcane Program’, in collaboration with sugar mills, financial institutions, the farming community and the government, starting with pilot projects covering ~20,000 hectares in the first phase for implementation in 2017.

In order to promote water-efficient cultivation practices along a Drip-to-Market Agro Corridor (DMAC), 2030WRG is supporting market linkages between the farming community and agri-business companies, with the aim of accelerating Public-Private-Community Partnerships (PPCP) in up to 500,000 hectares of drip-irrigated areas, starting with Ramthal. The Steering Board approved the establishment of a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to be governed by a multi-stakeholder body for this program.

In view of the finalization of the work around reuse of treated urban wastewater through a policy framework and the establishment of a Resource Centre, the Steering Board requested for an accelerated submission of the wastewater reuse policy to cabinet. The overall goal of this policy is to establish an enabling environment for the reuse of municipal wastewater to maximize efficient resource use, address water scarcity, and enhance economic output.

The Resource Center, established to fast-track wastewater reuse projects, will be operationalized by the Urban Water workstream by July 2017 through a Government Order, with appropriate multi-stakeholder governance.