Lok Sabha Question No. 6334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: National Water Usage Charge Policy
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 6334

ANSWERED ON 05.0 4.201 8

## NATIONAL WATER USAGE CHARGE POLICY

## 6334. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

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

(a) the current status of setting up of Water Regulatory Authority in the country, State -wise;

(b) the updated status of the action taken by the Union Government in coordination with Governments to frame a special national water usage charge policy for various kinds of wa and

(c) the time by which such a policy is expected to b e framed?

## ANSWER

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

( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) The National Water Policy, 2012, inter -alia, recommended setting up of an independent statuto Water Regulatory Authority by each State to fix and regulate the water tariff system. Nat Policy, 2012 was forwarded to all State Governments / U nion Territories for appropriate action.

Water  being  a  State  Subject,  the  State  Governments  have  to  set  up Water  Regulatory Authorities in their respective States . Current status of setting up of Water Regulatory Authorities as received from  the States is at Annexure .

(b) There is no proposal to frame a special national water usage charge policy under considerat Central Government.

However, National Water Policy, 2012, inter - alia, suggests various measures with respect waterpricing. These are as under:

- Pricing of water should ensure its efficient use and reward conservation. Equitable access to water for  all  and  its  fair  pricing,  for  drinking  and  other  uses  such as  sanitation,  agricultural  and industrial, should be arrived at through independent statutory Water Regulatory Authority, set up by each State, after wide ranging consultation with all stakeholders.

- In order to meet equity, efficiency and economic principles, the water charges should preferably / as a rule be determined on volumetric basis. Such charges s ould b reviewed periodically.
- The  principle  of  differential  pricing  may  be  retained  for  the  pre - emptive  uses  of water  for drinking and sanitation; and high priority allocation for ensuring food security and supporting livelihood for the poor. Available water, after meeting the above needs, should increasingly be subjected  to  allocation  and  pricing  on  economic principles  so  that  water  is  not  wasted  i unnecessary uses and could be utilized more gai nfully.
- Water  Users  Associations  (WUAs)  should  be  given  statutory  powers  to  collect and  retain  a portion of water charges, manage the volumetric quantum of water allotted to them and maintain the  distribution  system  in  their  jurisdiction.  WUAs should  be  g iven  the  freedom  to  fix  rates subject to floor rates determined by WRAs.
- Urban  water  supply  and  sewage  treatment  schemes  should  be  integrated  and executed simultaneously. Water supply bills should include sewerage charges.
- (c) Does not arise in view of the reply to part (b) above.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of  Unstarred Q.No. 6334 to be answered in  Lok Sabha on 05.04.2018 regarding  ' National Water Usage Charge Policy '.

## Status of the setting up of Water Regulatory Authorities as received from the State Governments

|   Sl.No. | State/UT         | Status of Water Regulatory Authority                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Bihar            | Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority in Bihar is under                                                                                                                                                |
|        2 | Gujarat          | The process of formation of Gujarat Water Regulatory Authority has initiated by the State Government and the same was 14.02.2016.                                                                         |
|        3 | Haryana          | The process for setting up of Haryana Water Resources Authority Act " is under action.                                                                                                                    |
|        4 | Himachal Pradesh | No Water Regulatory Authority has been formed in Himachal                                                                                                                                                 |
|        5 | Jammu &Kashmir   | The Water Resources Regulatory Authority has been SRO 339 of 2012 dated 15.10.2012 in terms of the J&K State Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010 and the functional as on date.         |
|        6 | Jharkhand        | Water Regulatory Authority has been notified. Appointment members is in progress.                                                                                                                         |
|        7 | Maharashtra      | The Government of Maharashtra has established Maharashtra Resources Regulatory Authority in Mumbai on 12.08.2005 Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act, 2005                               |
|        8 | Punjab           | There is no Water Regulatory Authority in the State of Directorate of Ground water Management has been created to the various aspects of water usages.                                                    |
|        9 | Rajasthan        | The Rajasthan River basin and Water Resources Planning has started functioning.                                                                                                                           |
|       10 | Tripura          | Water Regulatory Authority is not yet formed.                                                                                                                                                             |
|       11 | Uttar PradeshThe | Uttar Pradesh Water Management & Regulatory (UPWaMReC) Act - 2014 has been passed by Uttar Pradesh and assented to by the Governor on 04.03.2014 for setting Regulatory Authority in Uttar Pradesh State. |

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