Lok Sabha Question No. 4700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Water Management
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4700

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## WATER MANAGEMENT

## †4700.     SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether certain suggestions have been made by the National Water Commission for water management in the country and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to frame any law for the use of water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purpose; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a)  Presently there is no National Water Commission in the country and therefore, question of making suggestions does not arise.

(b) & (c)  A Committee constituted by this Ministry on 28.12.2015 under the Chairmanship of Dr.  Mihir  Shah,  former    Member,  Planning  Commission  has  proposed  draft  National  Water Framework Bill, 2016 which inter-alia provides for an overarching national legal framework with principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource. The salient features of the draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 are enclosed as Annexure-A .

*****

## Annexure as mentioned in the part (b) & (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Qu. No. 4700 Regarding 'Water Management' due for reply on 30.03.2017

## SALIENT FEATURES OF DRAFT NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL, 2016

The  draft  National  Water  Framework  Bill,  2016  seeks  to  provide  an  overarching  national  legal framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and  stressed  natural  resource  under  which  legislation  and  executive  action  on  water  at  all  levels  of governance can take place.

2. The Bill proposes that every individual should have a right to sufficient quantity of safe water for life within easy reach based on the principles of integrated river basin management. The States shall hold water resources as a Common Heritage and Public Trust.

3. The  draft  Bill  proposes  that  the  appropriate  government  shall  strive  towards  rejuvenating  river systems with community participation, ensuring:

(a) 'Aviral Dhara' - continuous flow in time and space including maintenance of connectivity of flow in each river system;

(b) 'Nirmal Dhara' - unpolluted flow so that the quality of river waters is not adversely affected by human activities; and

(c) 'Swachh Kinara' - clean and aesthetic river banks with ecological integrity.

4. It  proposes  that  the  appropriate  government  shall  take  all  measures  to  protect  the  ecological integrity necessary to sustain  eco-systems  dependent  on  water and  should adopt people-centered decentralized water management, for both surface and ground water, including local rainwater harvesting, watershed development and participatory irrigation management, shall be prioritized, while recognizing, encouraging and empowering local initiatives.

5. It proposes that the appropriate Government shall take into consideration the following:

- (a) Water Use and Land Use
- (b) Appropriate Treatment and Use of Wastewater
- (c) Standards for Water Quality and Water Footprints

(d) Water Use Prioritization.

Provided  that  these  uses  of  water  are  consistent  with  the  objective  of  sustaining  aquifers  and ecosystem indispensable to long terms sustenance of the resource.

6. The draft Bill lays high priority to Integrated River Basin Development and Management, wherein a river basin, including associated aquifers, shall be considered as the basis hydrological unit for planning, development and management of water. Each State Government shall develop, manage and regulate basins of inter-State rivers through a River Basin Master Plan to be implemented by an appropriate institutional mechanism.
7. It  proposes for establishment of a River Basin Authority for each inter-State river basin, or for a sub-basin for sub inter-State river basin wherever appropriate for optimum and sustainable development of the  inter-State  rivers  and  river  valleys,  with  active  participation  and  cooperation  by  all  basin  States  to ensure  equitable,  sustainable  and  efficient  utilisation  of  water  resources  with  emphasis  on  demand management through conjunctive and integrated use of resources. Each River Basin Authority shall prepare a Master Plan for the River Basin.

8. The Bill also proposes that the appropriate Government shall prepare and oversee the implementation of a Water Security Plan for (a) attainment of sufficient quantity of safe water for life and sustainable livelihoods by every person; and (b) ensuring water security even in times of emergencies like droughts and floods.