ABSTRACT
Water policy is not disconnected from the various other policies that a country may adopt from time to time. It is part of the overall state governance and should blend with other policies as the case may dictate. Especially when water resources are shared with other countries, water policy closely interacts with diplomacy, foreign policy, and policies on cooperation with the co-riparian party in other sectors of the economy. No wonder, then, that water policy gets overhauled, amended, or its emphasis shifted in light of regional political and economic interactions and developments. On the domestic front, shifts in water policy usually take place in light of the economic and social development potentials and the need to achieve higher rates of economic growth and progress. Income distribution patterns, and the responsibility of the State in that regard, may also be a key factor in shifting water policy toward a more balanced pattern of allocation and re-allocation. Water, in simple terms, is an indispensable input for the generation of wealth, and its allocation to consumers and purposes of use affect income distribution patterns. Impacts of water policy touch on all aspects of economic and social activities and environmental well-being.
