The Centre and state governments have agreed to form a permanent forum at the national level to evolve consensus, cooperation and reconciliation among states on water-related issues. The Centre has also proposed amending the interstate water disputes Act to set up a standing tribunal to deal with water-related disputes among states.
Water being a state subject, several states, including Haryana and Kerala, raised objections to the Draft National Water Policy, formulated by the Centre on water-related issues. While Haryana was represented by its senior minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha at the meeting, Punjab was represented by Chief Engineer Canals Amarjit Singh Dullet.
Calling for far-reaching reforms in the water sector, Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Centre had proposed setting up a forum of state water ministers to work out reconciliation. Bansal said there was a broad agreement among states on forming the forum. The mandate might include reforms in the water sector, but bilateral issues would not be discussed at the forum.
The Water Resources Minister said the government might amend the interstate water disputes Act to set up a standing tribunal to deal with water-related disputes among states. The tribunal would have benches dealing with more than one dispute. It was time that reforms of far-reaching consequences were brought about in the water sector because "business as usual" was no longer possible, he added.
Some states, however, expressed apprehension that the overarching legal framework on water will encroach on their powers. He said Haryana and Kerala were among the states that expressed apprehension that the ministry wanted to make the overarching legal framework binding through enactment of law. "That is not our intention," he added.
- The mandate may include reforms in water sector, but bilateral issues will not be discussed at the forum
- The Centre has also proposed to amend interstate water disputes Act
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