The State Government of Punjab has published the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2020 (“Bill”), in the Official Gazette on January 16, 2020 for the management and regulation of water resources.
The Bill extend to the whole of the State of Punjab and will come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint.
Background:
Water is a common resource for the people and it is incumbent on the government to ensure the long-term sustainability of this finite resource for meeting the needs of the present and future generations by management and conservation of the water resources of Punjab in the most economical and efficient manner through a legal framework suitable to address the challenge. Therefore, the Bill proposes to make a law for the management and regulation of water resources of Punjab and to ensure their judicious, equitable and sustainable utilization, management and regulation.
Key Highlights of Bill:
- The term ‘Groundwater’ has been defined as water occurring under its natural state, where it exists below the surface in the zone of saturation whereby it can be extracted through wells or any other means or emerges as springs and base flows in streams and rivers.
- The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (“Authority”) must be set up consisting of a Chairman and two other members to be appointed by the Government. The Authority will be responsible for the management and conversion of water resources of Punjab in a judicious, equitable and sustainable manner, and will be empowered to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for this purpose.
- The Authority shall periodically issue tariff orders specifying the charges to be imposed by entities supplying water for commercial or industrial use which shall be duly implemented by the concerned entities within the time stipulated by the Authority.
- The authority will also be empowered to issue directions and guidelines for the conservation and management of the water resources.
- Any person carrying out operations or processes which utilize water or generate wastewater shall be bound to render all assistance without delay for proper inspection of the premises to the appointed Enquiry Person.
- Any person who fails to comply with or contravenes the directions or orders issued by the Authority under this Act, or abets the contravention or non- compliance thereof, shall be deemed to have committed an offence and on conviction, be punishable:
(i) for the first offence, with a fine up to fifty thousand rupees; and
(ii) for the subsequent offence, with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or both.
Source: Punjab Government Gazette
