Lok Sabha Question No. 3997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: National Water Framework Law
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 3997

ANSWERED ON 10 .0 8.201 7

## NATIONAL WATER FRAME WORK LAW

## 3997. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

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

(a) whether a draft National Water Framework Law is under consideration and if so, the de current status thereof;

(b) whether all the States have taken the draft law into consideration and if not, the details o which have not considered the same along with the rationale behind the same; and

(c) whether a tentative date has been fixed to achieve consensus on the draft law and if , the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## ( DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN )

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. A Committee constituted by this Ministry on 28.12.2015 under the Chairma of  Dr.  Mihir  Shah  suggested  a  draft  National  Water  Framework  Bill,  2016  which  inter - alia,  contains provisions  for  an  overarching  national  legal  framework  with  principles  for  prot ection,  conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource. The salient draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 are at Annexure - I .

The  draft  Bill  was  circulated  to  all  the  States/Union  Territories  and  the  conce Ministries for obtaining their comments. The details of the States that have furnished the this draft Bill are at Annexure - II .

(c) No, Madam. Fixing a tentative date for achieving consensus is subject to concurrence/s the State Governments/UTs. However, Secretary of this Ministry vide D.O. letter dated 20.01.20 communicated the benefits of National Water Framework Law (NWFL) to the Chie f Secretaries of all States/UTs and requested them to support the Bill. The Hon'ble Minister (WR, RD & GR) vide her letter written on 14 th & 21 st March, 2017, has also requested Chief Ministers of all States/UTs to pas resolutions in their State Assemblies in support of the draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016.

## (Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) & (b) of the Unstarred Question No.3997 to be a on 10.08.2017 in the Lok Sabha regarding ' National WaterFramework Law ')

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

The Draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 seeks to provide an overarching natio framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and manageme t of water as a vital and stressed natural resource, under which legislation and executive action on water governance can take place.

2. The Bill proposes that every individual has a right to sufficient quantity of safe life within easy reach based on the principles of integrated river basin management. The Stat water as a Common Heritage Resource and in Public Trust.

3. The  draft  Bill  states  that  the  appropriate  government  shall  strive  towards  rejuv river systems with community participation, ensuring:
2. ( a) 'Aviral Dhara' continuous flow in time and space including maintenance of connectiv flow in each river system;
3. ( b) 'Nirmal Dhara' unpolluted flow so that the quality of river waters is not adve rsely affected by human activities; and
4. ( c) 'Swachh Kinara' clean and aesthetic river banks with ecological integrity.

4. It  proposes  that  the  appropriate  government  shall  take  all  measures  to  protect  t integrity  necessary  to  sustain  eco - system s  dependent  on  water.    Governments  should  adopt  peopl -centered  decentralized  water  management,  for  both  surface  and  ground  water.    Local harvesting, watershed development and participatory irrigation management shall be priori recogn izing, encouraging and empowering local initiatives.

5. It proposes that the appropriate Government shall take into consideration the followin
2. (a) Water use and land use
3. (b) Appropriate treatment and use of wastewater
4. (c) Standards for water qualit y and water footprints
5. (d) Water use prioritization.

Provided that these uses of water are consistent with the objectives of sustaining aq -systems indispensable to long term 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 basic hydr planning, development and management of water.  Each State Government shall develop, mana nd regulate  basins  of  inter - State  rivers  through  a  River  Basin  Master  Plan  to  be  implemented appropriate institutional mechanism.

7. It proposes for establishment of a River Basin Authority for each inter - Stat  river basin, or for a sub- basin for su b inter - State river basin wherever appropriate for optimum and sustainable deve of the inter - State rivers and river valleys, with active participating and cooperation by all ensure  equitable,  sustainable  and  efficient  utilisation  of water  resources  with  emphasis  on  demand management  through  conjunctive  and  integrated  use  of  resources.  Each  River  Basin  Author prepare a Master Plan for the River Basin.

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

(Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) & (b) of the Unstarred Question No.3997 to be a on 10.08.2017 in the Lok Sabha regarding ' National Water Framework Law ')

## THE DETAILS OF THE STATES FURNISHED THEIR COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL, 2016

*******

|   Sl No. | Names of the States   |
|----------|-----------------------|
|        1 | Gujarat               |
|        2 | Kerala                |
|        3 | Madhya Pradesh        |
|        4 | Maharashtra           |
|        5 | Odisha                |
|        6 | Punjab                |
|        7 | Rajasthan             |
|        8 | Tamil Nadu            |
|        9 | Uttar Pradesh         |