Expertise: Water Law, Natural Resources Law
Expertise Group: Agriculture/Rural Development
Consultant Source: International
TOR Keywords: Water Law, Institutional, Water Governance
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
Karnataka is currently implementing the State Integrated Water Resources Management Roadmap under the
Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Program, Tranche-2 with
support from Asian Development Bank. The various components of the IWRM Roadmap include Integrated River
Basin Management; Institutions and Policies for IWRM; Data, Information, and Knowledge Management; IWRM
Based Irrigation Management; Water Use Efficiency and Water Productivity; and Stakeholder involvement
and Capacity Building.
In-line with this, AC-IWRM, WRD, GoK had engaged a Water Resources Policy and Institutions expert to
carry out a study on Karnataka State Water Resources Law: Feasibility and Scope. The report after
reviewing the existing national and state laws related to water resources management identified a number
of emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in the current set of
water laws. These include Public Ownership and Control; Regulation and Security of Water Rights;
Abstraction of Water; Protection and Management of Water Sources; Water Planning and River Basins;
Environmental Concerns – Environmental Water Needs and River Health; Water Resources Information System;
Implementation and Enforceability; and Transforming Government Institutions.
Recently, Government of Karnataka has notified the State Water Policy, 2022 which is focused on aligning
and re-designing the state’s water resources management strategies and practices with IWRM principles.
Under Governance and Strengthening the Institutions – Legal Aspects, the policy provides to undertake
policy and institutional assessments to look at options and approaches for strengthening water resources
management, including potentially updating relevant laws, and progressively improving the arrangements.
To follow up on the recommendations of the Karnataka State Water Resources Law: Feasibility and Scope
and to undertake assessment for potentially updating of relevant water laws under the State Water
Policy, 2022, AC-IWRM, WRD, GoK now proposes to engage an International Water Law Consultant to
undertake these tasks.
The output of the water resources law study will feed into formulating a IWRM Law for the State of
Karnataka in alignment with the State Water Policy, 2022 and other national and state laws related to
water. This will provide for instituting a comprehensive legal-governance framework for water resources
management in the state aligned with IWRM principles.
Scope of Work
The International Consultant will gather information, perform analyses, make recommendations and prepare
reports regarding water law in Karnataka with reference to State Water Policy 2022 and State IWRM
Roadmap.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
Under the supervision of the Technical Director AC-IWRM, WRD, GoK, the International Consultant will
undertake to:
- Review the Karnataka State Water Resources Law: Feasibility and Scope Report, the Karnataka State
Water Policy, 2022 and Karnataka State IWRM Roadmap to identify emerging domains of water resources
management that require legislative support to institute and strengthen the legal-governance framework
for water resources management in the state aligned with IWRM principles.
1 Inception Report Report 31 July 2023
2 Karnataka State Water Resources Law: Feasibility and Scope Report, the Karnataka State Water Policy,
2022 and Karnataka State IWRM Roadmap and identification of emerging domains of water resources
management that require legislative support to institute and strengthen the legal-governance framework
for water resources management in the state aligned with IWRM principles. Report 30 September 2023
3 Review and assessment of current set of national and state laws related to water and identification of
emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in these laws Report 30
November 2023
4 Review the law-making process in India and recommendation of options for making provisions in the law
for the identified emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in
current set of water laws Report 31 January 2024
5 Review and feedback on the draft legislations / provisions in the law for the identified emerging
legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in current set of water laws Report
28 February 2024
- Review and assess the current set of national and state laws related to water and identify the
emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in these laws. - Review the law-making process in India and recommend options for making provisions in the law for the
identified emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in current set of
water laws – formulation of new legislations, amendment of existing laws, etc. - Guide and support the National Water Law Consultant in drafting of provisions in the law for the
identified emerging legal domains that are either missed out or weakly provisioned for in current set of
water laws and review the draft legislations and provide feedback on such drafts, through reports as
well as other relevant methods.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
i. Post Graduate qualifications in water resources management, law, public administration or other
allied field preferably relating to water resources law.
ii. At least 10 years of international experience of water resources management relevant to water
resources law.
iii. Proven work experience relevant to the above responsibilities.
iv. Experience and knowledge of India and State (preferably Karnataka) or Provincial level water
resources management and law is essential.
v. Demonstrated experience in gathering and analyzing water resources information interpreting findings
and making implementable recommendations.
vi. Strong analytical and report writing skills with MS Office proficiency are required.
vii. Strong communication skills both oral and written, interpersonal and presentation skills with
ability and willingness to participate in a multi-disciplinary team of consultants.
viii. Excellent English language skills in reading, writing, speaking and understanding
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 10 Years
