The Centre has come out with a draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016. The aim of the Bill is to resolve several inter-state disputes over river water sharing. Since water is a 'state' subject, the proposed legislation will not be binding on states for adoption even if it becomes a law through Parliament in due course. It will work as a model bill for the states, giving them a framework to come out with local laws to use and conserve water.
Highlights of National Water Framework Bill, 2016
The draft says that every person has a "right to sufficient quantity of safe water for life" within easy reach of the household regardless of caste, creed, religion, age, community, class, gen¬der, disability, economic status, land ownership and place of residence.
• It provides for a mechanism to de¬velop and manage river basin in an integrated manner so that every state gets "equitable" share of a river's wa¬ter without violating rights of others.
• It pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys.
• It also devises an integrated ap¬proach.to conserve water and manage groundwater in a sustainable manner.
• The draft Bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond up to an inter-state river-basin level to "obvi¬ate" disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
• it also says that each River Basin Authority will prepare a master plan for the river basin, under its jurisdic¬tion, comprising such information as may be prescribed. The master plan, so prepared, will be reviewed and updated every five years after due consultation with all other planning agencies and stakeholders.
Highlights of National Water Framework Bill, 2016
The draft says that every person has a "right to sufficient quantity of safe water for life" within easy reach of the household regardless of caste, creed, religion, age, community, class, gen¬der, disability, economic status, land ownership and place of residence.
• It provides for a mechanism to de¬velop and manage river basin in an integrated manner so that every state gets "equitable" share of a river's wa¬ter without violating rights of others.
• It pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys.
• It also devises an integrated ap¬proach.to conserve water and manage groundwater in a sustainable manner.
• The draft Bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond up to an inter-state river-basin level to "obvi¬ate" disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
• it also says that each River Basin Authority will prepare a master plan for the river basin, under its jurisdic¬tion, comprising such information as may be prescribed. The master plan, so prepared, will be reviewed and updated every five years after due consultation with all other planning agencies and stakeholders.
