)
The Uttarakhand government is yet to implement its landmark water management and regulatory Act which the experts claim has the potential to mitigate natural disasters.
With the state facing a barrage of disasters since 2010, the Uttarakhand Water Management and Regulatory Act, 2013 came into being after the consent of governor Aziz Qureshi on April 4, much before the worst deluge struck the hill state on June 16-17.
However, the key provisions of the Act have not been implemented which include establishment of an authority which is mandatory under the Act to oversee and ensure judicious equitable and sustainable management as well as allocation and optimal utilization of water resources.
The 5-member authority, which will have the powers of a civil court, will also have the mandate to carry out developments in the state in sustainable manner.
Besides, the authority will also fix rates for water use for agriculture, industrial, drinking, power and other purposes and take cess on land benefitted by flood protection and drainage works. The authority will also devise a new water policy with an aim to properly manage rivers that are wreaking havocs in the state during the past few years.
“We must not waste time in setting up a regulatory authority. This is landmark act and we must give a serious thought to it,” said Sunderlal Bahuguna, a top environmentalist.
Under various provisions of the Act, the authority will also approve an integrated state water plan and basin plans to ensure sustainable management of water resources within the parameters laid down by the state water policy.
It will also determine the allocation and distribution of entitlements for various categories of use of water at utility, project level and also between various water users entity under the water policy. It will also lay down procedures for diversion, storage and use of surface water and ground water of the state.
The authority will also review and accord clearances to new water resources projects proposed on the river basins and sub-basins.
Another key component of the Act is to monitor conservation of environment and facilitate the development of a framework for the preservation of quality of surface and ground water resources. The authority will have the powers to take action against all those who are found polluting the surface and ground water.
Harshpati Unniyal, an adviser to the state planning commission, described the Act as a milestone and said its implementation will ensure the mitigation of the sufferings of the people also during disasters.
“The unplanned development brings such disasters. But under the new act, the authority can suggest long-term measures to mitigate such disasters,” said Unniyal, who had prepared a draft bill for the regulation and control of ground water in 2007. The key points of this draft bill have already been incorporated in the new Act, Unniyal said.
