Opposing the Centre's proposed Draft Dam Safety Bill, 2016, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday said it has to be re-examined as the bill does not cover crucial areas.
"The bill stipulates that the State Dam Safety Organisation will have jurisdiction over all the dams located in a state, irrespective of who owns, operates and maintains the dam. These are unacceptable provisions and must be suitably modified," Jayalalithaa said in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that the Draft Bill does not cover crucial areas and may only end up compromising existing accountability mechanisms and arrangements, she said, "I am of the view that since state governments have adequate expertise and experience on dam safety and the Central Water Commission is also associated with the safety aspects, there appears to be no pressing need or necessity to have a central legislation on the issue."
Urging the Centre to have the need for such a legislation re-examined, Jayalalithaa said, "The matter should not be proceeded with, in haste, without discussing the issues raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare."
Recalling her earlier communication to the then prime minister, the chief minister said, "It is unfortunate that none of the views already conveyed by me on the earlier bill appear to have been considered while preparing the present draft bill."
![]( "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. PTI File Photo.")
Opposing the Centre’s proposed Draft Dam Safety Bill, 2016, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday said it has to be re-examined as the bill does not cover crucial areas.
"The bill stipulates that the State Dam Safety Organisation will have jurisdiction over all the dams located in a state, irrespective of who owns, operates and maintains the dam. These are unacceptable provisions and must be suitably modified,” Jayalalithaa said in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that the Draft Bill does not cover crucial areas and may only end up compromising existing accountability mechanisms and arrangements, she said, "I am of the view that since state governments have adequate expertise and experience on dam safety and the Central Water Commission is also associated with the safety aspects, there appears to be no pressing need or necessity to have a central legislation on the issue.”
Urging the Centre to have the need for such a legislation re-examined, Jayalalithaa said, "The matter should not be proceeded with, in haste, without discussing the issues raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare.”
Recalling her earlier communication to the then prime minister, the chief minister said, "It is unfortunate that none of the views already conveyed by me on the earlier bill appear to have been considered while preparing the present draft bill.”
"The bill stipulates that the State Dam Safety Organisation will have jurisdiction over all the dams located in a state, irrespective of who owns, operates and maintains the dam. These are unacceptable provisions and must be suitably modified," Jayalalithaa said in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that the Draft Bill does not cover crucial areas and may only end up compromising existing accountability mechanisms and arrangements, she said, "I am of the view that since state governments have adequate expertise and experience on dam safety and the Central Water Commission is also associated with the safety aspects, there appears to be no pressing need or necessity to have a central legislation on the issue."
Urging the Centre to have the need for such a legislation re-examined, Jayalalithaa said, "The matter should not be proceeded with, in haste, without discussing the issues raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare."
Recalling her earlier communication to the then prime minister, the chief minister said, "It is unfortunate that none of the views already conveyed by me on the earlier bill appear to have been considered while preparing the present draft bill."
Opposing the Centre’s proposed Draft Dam Safety Bill, 2016, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday said it has to be re-examined as the bill does not cover crucial areas."The bill stipulates that the State Dam Safety Organisation will have jurisdiction over all the dams located in a state, irrespective of who owns, operates and maintains the dam. These are unacceptable provisions and must be suitably modified,” Jayalalithaa said in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that the Draft Bill does not cover crucial areas and may only end up compromising existing accountability mechanisms and arrangements, she said, "I am of the view that since state governments have adequate expertise and experience on dam safety and the Central Water Commission is also associated with the safety aspects, there appears to be no pressing need or necessity to have a central legislation on the issue.”
Urging the Centre to have the need for such a legislation re-examined, Jayalalithaa said, "The matter should not be proceeded with, in haste, without discussing the issues raised by Tamil Nadu threadbare.”
Recalling her earlier communication to the then prime minister, the chief minister said, "It is unfortunate that none of the views already conveyed by me on the earlier bill appear to have been considered while preparing the present draft bill.”