Govt expedites work on National Water Framework law

The government is moving at a fast pace to put in place a National Water Framework law so that this precious resource is managed optimally and a draft Bill has been circulated among states and Union Territories for their views, Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairman GS Jha said.

Addressing the ‘National Water Summit 2016’, organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on the occasion of International Water Day, he said the draft framework has almost all ingredients of the national water policy as also intent of attempts to provide for water security in view of evolving water paucity in the country.

“The comprehensive draft on the national water framework law, which would be evolved with purely conciliatory approach in due course of time, would work as the directive principle for states and UTs and help them manage their water resources as the water is a state subject,” Jha said.

He said its contents have the support and endorsement of almost all stakeholders as managing water judiciously is becoming a challenge for each state, UTs and local governments.

Jha did not prescribe a particular time limit for the implementation of the framework agreement. However, he expressed hope that it would evolve into a document, which would not only emerge as a guiding principle to manage water resources across the country, but also help resolve inter-state water disputes in an equitable proportion.

Chairman of Water and Solid Waste Management Committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gopal K Agarwal welcomed the declaration for proposed water framework.