Hydro-Meteorological Data Dissemination Policy-2013 issued by Ministry of Water Resources

The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) had formulated a draft Hydro-Meteorological Data Dissemination Policy (HMDDP), which was released for comments on 7th March, 2013, for placing all hydrological data, other than those classified on national security consideration, in public domain, in pursuit of the recommendations of the National Water Policy (2012).

After being circulated amongst related Ministries/Departments and based on the comments received, the Hydro-meteorological Data Dissemination Policy (2013) has been modified and finalized. 

The Hydro-meteorological Data Dissemination Policy (2013) provides for hosting of all unclassified data (after validation and to the extent published in Water Year Book, Water Quality Year Book, Water Sediment Year Book, Ground Water Year Book) on IndiaWRIS (web based Water Resources Information System) website, which can be downloaded by any web-registered user free of cost.

The Web Enabled Water Resources Information System in the Country (IndiaWRIS) has been setup by Central Water Commission (CWC), in association with India Space Research Organization. The India-WRIS WebGIS aims as a ‘Single Window’ solution for comprehensive, authoritative and consistent data & information of India’s water resources along with allied natural resources in a standardized national GIS framework (WGS-84 datum and LCC projection) with tools to search, access, visualize, understand and analyze the data for assessment, monitoring, planning, development and finally Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

Likewise, a Ground Water Information System has been established by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to provide access various thematic layers as well as the nationwide database on ground water level and water quality monitoring carried out by CGWB.

The hydrological data of Indus basin & other rivers and their tributaries discharging into Pakistan and Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin & other rivers and their tributaries discharging into Bangladesh/Mynmar have been categorized as classified data. A Classified Data Release Committee is proposed to be set up to examine all requests for release of classified data.

It is expected that implementation of this policy would result into open access of all unclassified data and streamlining of the process of obtaining classified data.