Central Water Commission

Central Water Commission is a premier institution in India in the water resources domain. This authority primarily works as an extended arm to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Department of Water Resources, Government of India.

Also, recently in 2020, CWC (Central Water Commission) completed the 75th year and conducted different seminars, conferences, and other activities to mark the same. In this article, we will discuss the working of the Central Working Commission, which will assist you while preparing for your UPSC mains and prelims examination.

Central Water Commission - Overview

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) was formerly known as CWINC (Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission).
• This got instituted in 1945 by the Indian Government recommendation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
• The credit for the institution of CWINC (Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission) remains attributed to Dr BhimRao Ambedkar, under whose able recommendation the then Labour Department of the Government of India formed the CWC.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar raised the concept of the CWC, and he reasoned the requirement of having a technical organisation at the central level. He further laid down its purposes, administrative structure, and program.
• The conclusive proposal for the institution of the CWC was prepared with the assistance of Rai Bahadur A.N. Khosla, the Irrigation Consulting Engineer.
• The Central Water Commission is led by a Chairman, who holds the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the Indian Government of India. Also, when the CWC got established, Dr Rai Bahadur A.N. Khosla was appointed as the chairman.
• The CWC presently serves as an extended wing to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, under the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation in India.
• The operations of the Central Water Commission remain divided into three wings that include the River Management (RM) Wing, Designs and Research (D&R) Wing, and Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing.

Central Water Commission - Roles & Responsibilities

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) in India shoulders the accountability of creating and conforming projects introduced by the Indian Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• These Central Water Commission schemes got instituted to preserve and maintain the water resource use in the nation and the States.
• Likewise, the tasks were found to assist in flood administration, drinking water supply, irrigation activities, hydroelectricity generation, etc.
• The CWC (Central Water Commission) will consult water and irrigation-related matters with central and state governments when essential.

Central Water Commission Functions

Some of the significant functions of the CWC are as follows:

• Administration and control of floods.
• Reviewing economic viability and financial feasibility of different irrigation projects.
• Specialised appraisal of irrigation undertakings.
• Assessment and evaluation of multipurpose tasks dissimilar to the state government's suggestion.
• Collecting, publishing, and compiling the analysed hydrological data in India.
• Collecting data regarding rainfall, temperature, runoff, and more.
• Construction, examination, development, and execution of the necessary schemes.
• Delivering Advice and Assistance To The Central and State Governments.
• Surveying, analysing, and planning different techniques and construction jobs for the river valley developments.

FAQs on Central Water Commission

Q.1. What are the three wings of the Central Water Commission (CWC)?

The three wings of the Central Water Commission (CWC) are as follows:

• River Management Wing [RM]
• Design and Research Wing [D&R]
• Water Planning and Projects Wing [WP&P]

Q.2. When was the Central Water Commission got instituted?

This Central Water Commission (CWC) got instituted in 1945 by the Indian Government recommendation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.

Q.3. What was the Central Water Commission earlier known as in India?

The Central Water Commission (CWC) was formerly known as CWINC (Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission).

Q.4. What are the functions of the Central Water Commission in India?

Assessment and evaluation of multipurpose tasks dissimilar to the state government's suggestion.

• Collecting, publishing and compiling the analysed hydrological data in India.
• Collecting data regarding rainfall, temperature, runoff, and more.
• Construction, examination, development, and execution of the necessary schemes.
• Delivering Advice and Assistance To The Central and State Governments.
• Surveying, analysing, and planning different techniques and construction jobs for the river valley developments.