Posted on June, 10 2011

After both the houses of Parliament deliberated at length on the draft Act, the Water Bill 2010 was finally endorsed on 31st May, 2011. The Act states that all water resources in the country shall be protected, conserved and/or managed in an economically efficient, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable manner. 

Some of the important clauses in the Act are;

• National Environment Commission (the highest autonomous agency of the government mandated to look after all environment related issues in the country) has been identified as an independent authority to exercise and discharge the powers and functions conferred under this Act.
• A National Integrated Water Resource Management plan shall be formulated for coordinated development, management, conservation and efficient use of water resources. 
• Conservation  of  wetlands  shall  be  ensured  through  designation  of  one  or  more  wetlands  of  national  and  international importance  for  inclusion  under  multilateral  environment agreements to promote their conservation.
• The  Commission    may  in  consultation  with  the  affected  parties, declare  any  area  as  water  management  area  for  the  purpose  of protecting  any  water  resource,  riverine  habitat,  watershed,  wetland, environment   or   ecosystem   at   risk   of   depletion,   contamination, extinction  or  disturbance  from  any  source  through  issuance  of notification.
• The Commission shall promote payment for environmental services provided by water resources, such as cost of conserving water   resources   in   the   upper   watershed   areas. 
• The  Commission  shall  in  collaboration  with  the  relevant  Competent Authorities (any designated Ministry,  Organization,  Agency  or  Committee)  set  a  minimum  environmental  flow  of  watercourses required to support and conserve the riverine habitats and its flora and fauna.
• In consultation with   Competent Authorities and stakeholders, River Basin Management Plan for each river basin may be prepared.