(a) whether the Union Government have been actively considering to enact a model law to sustain sources of water through effective conservation and recharging of ground water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the State Governments have been directed to set
up regulatory authorities to effectively implement the said
law; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a) & (b) Water being a State subject, suitable legislation
for regulation and control of ground water development has
to be enacted by the States/Union Territories. However, in
1970 the Union Government had circulated a “Model Bill to
regulate and control the development of ground water and
matters connected therewith†to all the States/Union
Territories to enable them to enact suitable legislation
for regulation and control of ground water development.
Thereafter, a revised Model Bill was circulated in
September, 1992 and again in June, 1996 to all the
States/UTs. So far, States of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have enacted
legislation to regulate the use of ground water.
(c) & (d) In the Model Bill circulated by the Union
Government, there is a provision for establishment of Ground
Water Authority by respective States/Union Territories to
frame broad policies for administration of the legislation
and its effective implementation.