Lok Sabha Question No. 253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: National Water Framework Bill - 2016
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 253 ANSWERED ON 17.11.2016

## NATIONAL WATER FRAMEWORK BILL - 2016

## 253. SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state: Bill-2016 to provide a mechanism to develop and manage river basins in an integrated manner so

- (a) whether the Government has come out recently with the draft National Water Framework that every State gets an equitable share of a river's water without violating the rights of others; and
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The Government has circulated the draft National Water Framework Bill,  2016  to  States/UTs  and  the  concerned  Central  Ministries  for  obtaining  their  comments thereon. The draft Bill seeks to provide 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 annexed.

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(Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (a) & (b) of the Unstarred Question No.253 to be answered on 17.11.2016 in the Lok Sabha regarding 'National Water Framework Bill - 2016')

## 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:
3. (a) 'Aviral Dhara' - continuous flow in time and space including maintenance of connectivity of flow in each river system;
4. (b) 'Nirmal Dhara' - unpolluted flow so that the quality of river waters is not adversely affected by human activities; and
5. (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:
8. (a) Water Use and Land Use
9. (b) Appropriate Treatment and Use of Wastewater
10. (c) Standards for Water Quality and Water Footprints
11. (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.