States may adopt latest National Water Policy tomorrow

NEW DELHI: The National Water Resources Council chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to adopt tomorrow the draft National Water Policy, 2012 that stresses on the need to evolve a broad over-arching national legal framework on water.

The draft announced by the government in January this year was revised twice based on the recommendations made by the National Water Board.

The Prime Minister chairs the meeting of the Council which has all the Chief Ministers as its members. The last meeting of the Council held in April, 2002 had adopted the National Water Policy, 2002.

"Even while it is recognised that states have the right to frame suitable policies, laws and regulations on water, there is a felt need to evolve a broad over-arching national legal framework of general principles on water to lead the way for essential legislation on water governance in every state of the Union and devolution of necessary authority to the lower tiers of government to deal with the local water situation," says the latest draft.

It said such a framework law must recognise water not only as a scarce resource but also as a sustainer of life and ecology.

"Therefore, water needs to be managed as a community resource held by the state under public trust doctrine to achieve food security, livelihood, and equitable and sustainable development for all...," it states.

The meeting of the National Water Resources Council earlier proposed for October 30 had to be put off following the Cabinet reshuffle which saw Harish Rawat taking over as the new Water Resources Minister.

The meet was postponed to allow Rawat understand the functioning of the ministry and prepare him to answer questions Chief Ministers may raise on water-related issues, particularly Centre-state relations.