(a) whether the Government propose to regulate utilization of ground water through framing of rules and regulations;
(b) if so, the complete details thereof;
(c) whether a model Ground Water Regulation Bill was circulated
to all the States/Union Territories for adoption some years ago;
and
(d) if so, the response of the State Government/Union
Territories on the Bill?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a)&(b) Water being a State subject, suitable legislation to
regulate utilisation of ground water has to be enacted by the
State Governments/Union Territories. However, in pursuance of
orders of Supreme Court of India, the Central Government has
constituted the Central Ground Water Authority under Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control, management and
development of ground water in the country and to issue
necessary regulatory directions for this purpose.
(c) Yes, Sir. The Central Government has circulated a
Model Bill to regulate and control the development of ground
water to all State Governments/Union Territories in 1970 and re-
circulated it in 1992 and again in 1996 for adoption.
(d) So far the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil
Nadu, Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep have enacted
legislation on the lines of Model Bill and State
Governments/Union Territories of Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mizoram,
Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, NCT of
Delhi, Pondicherry and Daman & Diu have initiated action in this
direction.