Amid growing inter-state disputes over river water sharing, the Centre has brought in a final draft of the National Water Framework Bill, 2016.
The bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond, up to an inter-state river-basin level, to solve disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, which earlier sought public comments for the Framework Bill, has now prepared the final draft incorporating some suggestions. Soon, the bill will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval before it is tabled in Parliament.
Water being a state subject, the draft bill, however, will not be binding on states for adoption.
"All basin states are equal in rights and status, and there is no hierarchy of rights among them, and further, in this context, equality of rights means not equal but equitable shares in the river waters," the final draft bill says.
The draft bill pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys. It suggests that state recognise the principle that the rivers are not owned by the basin-states but are "public trustees".
It says all basin states have "equitable" rights over a river water "provided such use does not violate the right to water for life" of any person in the river basin.![]()
Amid growing inter-state disputes over river water sharing, the Centre has brought in a final draft of the National Water Framework Bill, 2016.
The bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond, up to an inter-state river-basin level, to solve disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, which earlier sought public comments for the Framework Bill, has now prepared the final draft incorporating some suggestions. Soon, the bill will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval before it is tabled in Parliament.
Water being a state subject, the draft bill, however, will not be binding on states for adoption.
"All basin states are equal in rights and status, and there is no hierarchy of rights among them, and further, in this context, equality of rights means not equal but equitable shares in the river waters," the final draft bill says.
The draft bill pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys. It suggests that state recognise the principle that the rivers are not owned by the basin-states but are "public trustees".
It says all basin states have "equitable" rights over a river water "provided such use does not violate the right to water for life" of any person in the river basin.
The bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond, up to an inter-state river-basin level, to solve disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, which earlier sought public comments for the Framework Bill, has now prepared the final draft incorporating some suggestions. Soon, the bill will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval before it is tabled in Parliament.
Water being a state subject, the draft bill, however, will not be binding on states for adoption.
"All basin states are equal in rights and status, and there is no hierarchy of rights among them, and further, in this context, equality of rights means not equal but equitable shares in the river waters," the final draft bill says.
The draft bill pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys. It suggests that state recognise the principle that the rivers are not owned by the basin-states but are "public trustees".
It says all basin states have "equitable" rights over a river water "provided such use does not violate the right to water for life" of any person in the river basin.
Amid growing inter-state disputes over river water sharing, the Centre has brought in a final draft of the National Water Framework Bill, 2016. The bill proposes establishing institutional arrangements at all levels within a state and beyond, up to an inter-state river-basin level, to solve disputes through negotiations, conciliation or mediation before they become acute.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources, which earlier sought public comments for the Framework Bill, has now prepared the final draft incorporating some suggestions. Soon, the bill will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval before it is tabled in Parliament.
Water being a state subject, the draft bill, however, will not be binding on states for adoption.
"All basin states are equal in rights and status, and there is no hierarchy of rights among them, and further, in this context, equality of rights means not equal but equitable shares in the river waters," the final draft bill says.
The draft bill pitches for establishing River Basin Authority for each inter-state basin to ensure "optimum and sustainable" development of rivers and valleys. It suggests that state recognise the principle that the rivers are not owned by the basin-states but are "public trustees".
It says all basin states have "equitable" rights over a river water "provided such use does not violate the right to water for life" of any person in the river basin.