Friday, April 19, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Good Morning Thought - 18th April 2013!
When the heart gets registered to deep
pain, it can become immune to both love and hate, bomb and flowers…
Good Morning!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Photo Contest: Healthy River, Happy Children!
Healthy
River, Happy Children!!
Are you a young photographer/photo enthusiast?
Are you concerned about the decaying health of Rivers
of Odisha?
Are you worried about our children not getting healthy
Rivers to play and groom their childhood?
If answer to the above questions is YES, then you are
invited to participate in a FIRST of its kind photo contest for young
photographers interested to capture the relationship between Rivers and our
Children.
Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), in collaboration with Photophilics
International (PI) invite young photographers of Odisha to participate in a
photographic contest as per the following terms and conditions:
1. The
photographs should capture the relationship that children of the state of
Odisha share with the Rivers of Odisha. The contest centres around the theme
“Healthy River, Happy Children”.
2. The
photographs should be able to show: i. the joys and happiness of children in
relation to Rivers; ii. The impact of pollution on Rivers and related impacts
over children; and iii. Initiatives taken up by individuals or
organisations/groups to save Rivers that has helped develop relationship of
Children with Rivers.
3. The
participants must be in the age group of 15 – 40.
4. The
photographs will only be accepted in print copies of size 12-18.
5. A
photographer can submit a maximum of 4 photograph under each of the three
themes described above in Point 2.
6. A
photographer can chose to submit photos on any/all themes. Each photo should
have the following details in a separate piece of paper: a. Name, b. Age, c.
Sex, d. Complete postal address with cell phones and email ids, e. Theme under
which a particular photo is submitted and f. Title/Caption for the photo, if
any.
7. The
photographer must enclose envelops with suitable postage stamp for return of
the photos. The organisers will not be
responsible for any damage of the pictures in transit.
8. The
photographs can be edited but in a minimum manner.
9. The
photograph must be the original work of the photographer. Any disputes raising out of the photographs
shall be the liability of the photographer and not the organizers.
10. WIO &
PI will have the right to exhibit the photos selected with proper
acknowledgement.
11. The
winners will be intimated over phone/email id.
12. While
winners of First, Second and Third positions will get Prizes/cash rewards, all
participants will get Certificates.
13. There is
no participation fees.
14. Participation will not necessarily guarantee
awards and the organizers will not be liable for any explanations for
rejections of any photograph.
15. The
photographs should be sent in sealed envelopes with appropriate
protection. The envelopes should be
superscribed with “Photos for ‘Healthy Rivers, Happy Children’ competition’, and
should be sent to the following address:
Photophilics International
C/o: Hotel Sujata, V. S. S. Marg, Sambalpur – 768 001,
Odisha, INDIA.
Cell numbers: +91-9437060727/9437050103
16. LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES: 10th JUNE, 2013.
For further details, contact:
Ranjan Panda, Convenor, WIO. Cell: +91-94370-50103. Email:
ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Shaswat Padhi, President, PI. Cell: +91-94370-60727. Email:
shaswat.p@gmail.com
This photo contest is part of a larger campaign that
aims at building a healthy relationship between the urban communities and
Rivers/Water Bodies. Several Organisations and Individuals have come forward to
be part of this campaign. A few to name
are: ONE DROP, Bakul Foundation, Yuva Udayan, Nadi Ghati Morcha
(Raipur), Hotel Sujata and Sakshi Handlooms.
Anyone concerned about health of Rivers and interested to be a part of
this campaign may please contact Ranjan Panda, Convenor, WIO at the above email
id/mobile number.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Good Morning Thought - 15th April 2013!
Life gives you worries only when you are
worried about life. Don’t worry, flow
with it…
Good Morning!
Have a Great Week!!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Maharashtra Deputy CM offers Urine to farmers when they want Water!
Dear Friends/Co-sailors,
Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) !
This is really shocking. Maharashtra is reeling under one of the severest drought conditions in known history and the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Mr. Ajit Pawar, who is also the nephew of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has humiliated farmers of this nation by a very shocking statement. As you can see from the NDTV report that I am pasting below, Mr. Pawar has said in a rally, "There is this person from Solapur, sitting on hunger strike for 55 days demanding water be released from the dam. But where are we going to get water from? Should we urinate? And when we are not getting water to drink even urine is not coming easily."
He has apologized for his remarks later but this speaks for the true character of the current ruling political class of this nation who are all sold out to interest of industries and rich urbanites. They are all out to kill the farmers and farming.
Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) condemns this statement by Mr. Pawar and asks him to provide sufficient water for irrigation to needy farmers; stop rampant commercialization of agriculture; stop privatizing water resources and draw suitable lines for industrialization in the state keeping in view the water and ecological footprint carrying capacity of the ecology.
We are keeping a watch on the issue and will keep you updated. If you are also looking at this issue and have something to share, please do share with us. And, if you are interested to join hands with WIO in its campaigns, advocacy efforts and action programmes, please contact us at ranjanpanda@gmail.com/
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan
============
Ajit Pawar apologises for shocking remark: 'If no water in dam, do we urinate in it?'
Pune: Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday apologised for ridiculing a two-month-long protest by a farmer, who is demanding dam water for his parched field.
"There is this person from Solapur, sitting on hunger strike for 55 days demanding water be released from the dam. But where are we going to get water from? Should we urinate? And when we are not getting water to drink even urine is not coming easily," Mr Pawar had said at a rally in Indapur, Pune, on Saturday.
Yesterday, in a statement, Mr Pawar said he is sorry for "hurting sentiments of people in Maharashtra with his comment". "These remarks were not made for drought-affected people," he said.
Protesting farmer slams Ajit Pawar's remark on water shortage
Mr Pawar is the nephew of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Commenting on the shortage of electricity, Mr Pawar made another controversial remark. "I have also come to know that since there is a shortage of electricity in Maharashtra, the population is increasing," he said.
As the crowd laughed, Mr Pawar added, "All of you must be thinking that I have taken (liquor) in the day itself."
Prabhakar Deshmukh, the farmer Mr Pawar ridiculed, said the minister had insulted the people of Maharashtra.
Mr Pawar was to hold a rally in Pune on Sunday, but it was cancelled. The NCP is tight-lipped on the issue, but party leaders are reportedly shocked by Mr Pawar's statement. "Even as a joke, this is just unacceptable," a senior leader said.
The BJP too slammed Mr Pawar. "Instead of saying that I stand by the public he makes comments like this. This is the lowest of low in Maharashtra politics," BJP leader Shaina NC said.
The Maharashtra government says the state is reeling under the worst drought since 1972. Most affected are the districts of Solapur, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Pune, Satara, Beed and Nashik.
Ajit Pawar had to resign after allegations were levelled against him in the Rs. 70,000 crore irrigation scam as he held the irrigation and water resources portfolio for a nearly a decade. However, the party reinstated him later.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/
Pune: Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday apologised for ridiculing a two-month-long protest by a farmer, who is demanding dam water for his parched field.
"There is this person from Solapur, sitting on hunger strike for 55 days demanding water be released from the dam. But where are we going to get water from? Should we urinate? And when we are not getting water to drink even urine is not coming easily," Mr Pawar had said at a rally in Indapur, Pune, on Saturday.
Yesterday, in a statement, Mr Pawar said he is sorry for "hurting sentiments of people in Maharashtra with his comment". "These remarks were not made for drought-affected people," he said.
Protesting farmer slams Ajit Pawar's remark on water shortage
Mr Pawar is the nephew of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Commenting on the shortage of electricity, Mr Pawar made another controversial remark. "I have also come to know that since there is a shortage of electricity in Maharashtra, the population is increasing," he said.
As the crowd laughed, Mr Pawar added, "All of you must be thinking that I have taken (liquor) in the day itself."
Prabhakar Deshmukh, the farmer Mr Pawar ridiculed, said the minister had insulted the people of Maharashtra.
Mr Pawar was to hold a rally in Pune on Sunday, but it was cancelled. The NCP is tight-lipped on the issue, but party leaders are reportedly shocked by Mr Pawar's statement. "Even as a joke, this is just unacceptable," a senior leader said.
The BJP too slammed Mr Pawar. "Instead of saying that I stand by the public he makes comments like this. This is the lowest of low in Maharashtra politics," BJP leader Shaina NC said.
The Maharashtra government says the state is reeling under the worst drought since 1972. Most affected are the districts of Solapur, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Pune, Satara, Beed and Nashik.
Ajit Pawar had to resign after allegations were levelled against him in the Rs. 70,000 crore irrigation scam as he held the irrigation and water resources portfolio for a nearly a decade. However, the party reinstated him later.
- Reported by Tejas Mehta and Syed Imtiaz Jaleel, Edited by Amit Chaturvedi | Updated: April 08, 2013 00:25 IST
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Scrap Polavaram Project.
Dear Friends/Co-sailors,
Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)!
As you are aware WIO has been opposing the Polavaram Project and all other such large dams which are nothing but socio-economic and environmental disasters. Despite of opposition from the Governments of Odisha and Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh has been moving ahead with the disastrous Polavaram project.
Forwarding for your interest the latest news in that front where in the news paper seems to be believing that the Govt. of India is yielding to pressure of the Govt. of Odisha. We have always opposed the illegal way in which the AP government is going ahead with the project and have been demanding them to scrap the project.
The way the central government has been supporting AP in this is dubious and shows its 'open bias' towards that State and mostly towards such huge destructive engineering structures. I am sure the proposed tripartite meeting is just to convince Odisha and Chhatisgarh to agree to the devastation.
Odisha should stick to its position and call for scrapping the Polavaram project. Further, the State itself should also refrain from implementing any such disastrous projects within Odisha. Ironically, the govt. of Odisha has opposed Polavaram on grounds which it ignores when it comes to such projects promoted by it, within the state.
We are keeping a watch on the developments and will keep you updated. If you are also looking at this issue and have something to share, please do share with us. And, if you are interested to join hands with WIO in its campaigns, advocacy efforts and action programmes, please contact us at ranjanpanda@gmail.com/
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan
=============
Polavaram back to square one
The jinx that settled on the Indirasagar (Polavaram) Multi-Purpose Project in 1943 refuses to lift even now. On Friday, the Centre appeared to be yielding to the pressure of the Odisha government to stop the project as it might lead to submergence of large tracts of lands in the Maoist-infested Malkangiri district.
Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat said in Delhi that there would be secretary-level tripartite meeting soon among the three stakeholders - Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh - to iron out differences and facilitate an amicable solution. He said the Odisha government had been raising a number of objections to the project.
This statement came as a dampener since the Rs 4,717-crore head works had been awarded to L1 bidder Transstroy (India) Ltd-JSC Engineering Centre UES (Russia) which began work in March.
Odisha filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2007 seeking to make environmental and RR clearances granted to the project null and void. It has been insisting ever since that till such time as the issue is resolved in the apex court, there should not be any construction activity.
- By Express News Service - HYDERABAD 06th April 2013 07:14 AM
Friday, April 5, 2013
Latest on National Water Policy of India.
Dear Friends/Co-sailors,
Forwarding for your interest a latest news from the National Water Resources Council meeting. From the discussions of the Chief Ministers of the quoted states you can find out how states are really waking up to water scarcity and other issues. Odisha had also raised its apprehensions about the Water Framework Law.
WIO has been actively participating in debates and processes at national level on the water policy and I can tell you that the Central Government is trying hard to push through a law to encroach upon the rights of the states. The butter quoted law, if at all it comes, is certainly going to restrict the rights of the states. Further, the national water policy is opening the floodgates for private capital to come into water sector and deprive people and democratic institutions from their due say and control over decision making. There are several other dangers in the policy. We had raised and registered our objections to the first draft of the policy. The government has considered some of our suggestions. However, a lot needs to be done still.
Our debate and actions on the National Water Policy are on; and we shall keep you updated. If you want to join, please get back to us at ranjanpanda@gmail.com/
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan
=============
States adopt latest National Water Policy
Pti : New Delhi | Apr 05, 2013
Earlier the states had expressed apprehensions over the proposed national legal framework on water resources. However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to allay fears by saying the Centre has no intention to encroach their rights on water management.
See what the states have to say about the new water policy.
Maha demands planning of basins to deal with water shortages
Maharashtra: Faced with water shortages, Maharashtra today demanded planning of basins or sub-basins on the basis of average annual water availability after factoring in limitations put in by awards of river dispute tribunals.
Addressing the meeting of the National Water Resources Council, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said almost 80 per cent of Maharashtra was rainfed and the projected irrigation potential was not beyond 30 per cent of the total area.
"To overcome the natural handicaps in the availability of water, we are proposing the planning of basins/sub-basins on the basis of the average annual water availability – subject of course to limitations put in by the awards of the river water dispute tribunals," he said.
Chavan said it would be helpful if this requirement of water short basins could be covered by appropriate wording in the National Water Policy.
He supported the provisions in the policy to keep aside a portion of river flows to meet the ecological needs ensuring that the low and high flow releases are proportional to the natural flow regime, including base flow contribution in the low flow season through regulated ground water use.
Chavan also sought financial support for urban bodies and public institutions on recycling and reuse of water as also for installation of electronic meters in almost a crore urban households.
"The local bodies or the consumers may not be able to defray such costs on their own. Here again, we request the Government of India to consider an appropriate package to meet such new evolving needs," he said.
Chavan said additional cost of transporting water from distant sources for supply to semi-arid regions need to be supported so that local communities are not burdened.
KTK demands permanent water dispute tribunal
Karnataka: Amid disputes between states over water-sharing, Karnataka today demanded setting up of a permanent water dispute tribunal in the Supreme Court and revisiting the Inter State Water Disputes Act to remove "loose ends" in the legislation.
"Permanent water dispute tribunal should be established in the Apex Court and its benches at all the States' High Courts on the lines of the Green Bench," Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said in his speech at the sixth meeting of the national water resources council here.
He suggested that it should have a sitting Supreme Court judge as its chairperson with multi-members from technical, environmental, geological, economical and legal fields.
Noting that present laws "create more disputes because of several loose ends" in the existing Acts, Shettar said that Inter State Water Disputes Act should be revisited.
"None of the present laws are able to establish a just water regime to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders," he said.
Without referring to Cauvery water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Shettar said in some cases Government of India stand has delayed the projects which can be otherwise.
"The absence of a water regime had been forcing us to go to the Supreme Court, by which Government of India is trying to absolve its conciliatory role which is prescribed by the Indian Constitution, which is an expected role being the Head of the federal structure, which need to be strongly established," he said.
Shettar said he made this statement because Karnataka "as a mid and upper riparian state suffered in both utilization and construction of projects which resulted in depriving the people of Karnataka their due and legal right of their share of water." Centre should leave law making to states: Akhilesh on water law
Uttar Pradesh: Opposing a proposal in the National Water Policy to create an over-arching law on water management, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said the Centre should restrict itself to deciding on the principles of such a framework and leave law making to states.
"While the UP government agrees to most of the proposals (in the draft Water Policy), the proposal to create a law on water is a sensitive issue. Water is a state subject according to the Constitution and states have a right to formulate policies keeping in mind their special needs," he said.
Yadav's speech was read out in absentia by state PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav.
He said it would be better if the Centre only formulates the basic directive principles for creating such a law.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also cautioned that any amendment to the Indian Easement Act, 1882 should be made after discussions with various stakeholders keeping in mind the social scenario in the country.
"Existing Acts, such as Indian Easements Act, 1882, Irrigation Acts, may have to be modified accordingly in as much as it appears to give proprietary rights to a land owner on groundwater under his/her land," the draft National Water Policy says.
Yadav lamented the long time taken in approving flood control schemes and said the present one year period should be curtailed.
"The entire amount for flood control projects should be released to the states in one go," he said.
He also demanded intervention of the Centre so that Pancheshwar, Nemure and Karnali dams in neighbouring Nepal could be constructed at the earliest to prevent floods in the state.
Badal opposes water regulatory authority
Punjab: Opposing establishment of a water regulatory authority, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that any revision in the national water policy should be based on the existing constitutional provisions and universally accepted riparian principles.
Participating in the deliberations at the 6th meeting of the National Water Resources Council chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Badal said water was a state subject under the Constitution and the states have exclusive power of legislation on it.
Expressing strong reservations over the establishment of a water tariff system and a water regulatory authority under the draft National Water Policy-2012, the Chief Minister opposed the move, saying these should be left to the states for taking appropriate decision.
Badal asserted that Punjab being an agrarian state was opposed to the concept of integrated planning and management of river basins and setting up of basin authorities by legislation.
"Without prejudice to our consistent stand on riparian rights, principles of equitable distribution of water should be well-defined," he said, adding that existing usage and future needs of water of a state be protected as otherwise it would directly affect the growth of the state.
The Chief Minister said water was a critical issue and tragic conflicts in the country were a result of mishandling of this sensitive issue.
He lamented that a major part of 'Punjab tragedy', for which the entire country had to pay a big price, was due to the Centre's refusal to address the river waters issue along just and internationally and nationally accepted riparian principle.
"This is one of the many areas where our decision makers in New Delhi must show greater sensitivity, statesmanship and farsightedness in handling critical issues such as water," Badal said.
Badal said the distribution of powers under the federal structure of the Constitution should in no case be tinkered with by making changes in frame work of existing laws, and added that each state has its own consideration in planning, management and use of its water resources.
He said the contribution made by each basin state to the catchment area of a river should be the main criteria for apportionment of water.
Citing the Irrigation Commission Report, 1972, which observed that the drainage area of Punjab in the Indus basin is three times that of Rajasthan and five times that of Haryana, Badal rued that yet Punjab was allocated only about 25 per cent share in Ravi-Beas waters as Rajasthan and Haryana were allocated about 50 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.
Alleging direct infringement on the freedom of states by way of imposing any integrated water resources management for the basin as a whole or sub-basin, Badal said such purported move would deprive states from their legitimate rights to plan, formulate and execute water supply schemes as per their needs.
Any integrated water management plan would lead to more conflicts among states, he said.
On subsidised irrigation to Punjab farmers, he said it was primarily done to compensate farmers to some extent keeping in view their contribution in making India self-reliant in food production, noting the price of agri produce was fixed in an "arbitrary" manner rendering it "unremunerative".
He said it is known that farming all over the world was subsidised to enable farmers achieve sustainability and survival essential for ensuring national food security.
Badal also stressed on the point that hard work of state's farmers helped in making a major contribution (over 50 per cent) to the National Food Pool.
He regretted that state's water resources were grossly inadequate and with its surface water resources fully utilised, there was great strain on ground water which was over- exploited resulting in its depletion.
Water conservation: Haryana for setting up of national fund
Haryana: Asking National Water Resources Council to deliberate on modalities for resolving inter-state water-related issues, Haryana today advocated setting up of a national fund to promote measures for conservation of water.
Haryana also rejected Punjab's suggestion that neighbouring states sharing river waters should also share the cost of flood management.
At the 6th Council meeting here, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Haryana has suffered in this regard as it neither got water from Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal despite Supreme Court orders nor did it get its share in Ravi-Beas waters, as its tribunal's final award has not been published.
On his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal's suggestion made yesterday that neighbouring states should share flood management expenses and cost of repair of flood damage, Hooda rejected the demand as "absurd" and said each state has to deal with its floods and other calamities.
Hooda lamented that Punjab enacted a law terminating water related agreements and the Centre has allowed the Presidential Reference on it to linger on for more than eight years. "This is unfair to the people of Haryana. The people of Haryana have several other grievances also," he said.
He welcomed the proposal to set up a permanent Water Disputes Tribunal at the centre to resolve disputes, but sought timely implementation of orders/directions of various tribunals and courts in this regard.
Welcoming the proposal to constitute River Basin authorities, Hooda said representation should not be made only from those states which have only nominal area in the basin.
The Haryana Chief Minister also welcomed the setting up of Water Regulatory authorities.
Hooda urged the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter, so that major contributors to the national food basket are not put to any disadvantage on this account.
He also called for convening more such meetings of the Water Resources Council and lamented that important issues pertaining to inter-state disputes had not even been listed for discussion.
Citing international practices on use of sprinkling methods for conserving water, he said the Government should consider giving incentives for adopting efficient water technologies.
The Haryana Chief Minister also talked about its share in the Ravi and Beas rivers, but lamented that it has been denied its share in power generated from Thein Dam constructed on the Ravi.
"We have been raising this issue at various forums, but there is no resolution yet," he said.
Source: http://m.indianexpress.com/
Pti : New Delhi | Apr 05, 2013
Earlier the states had expressed apprehensions over the proposed national legal framework on water resources. However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to allay fears by saying the Centre has no intention to encroach their rights on water management.
See what the states have to say about the new water policy.
Maha demands planning of basins to deal with water shortages
Maharashtra: Faced with water shortages, Maharashtra today demanded planning of basins or sub-basins on the basis of average annual water availability after factoring in limitations put in by awards of river dispute tribunals.
Addressing the meeting of the National Water Resources Council, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said almost 80 per cent of Maharashtra was rainfed and the projected irrigation potential was not beyond 30 per cent of the total area.
"To overcome the natural handicaps in the availability of water, we are proposing the planning of basins/sub-basins on the basis of the average annual water availability – subject of course to limitations put in by the awards of the river water dispute tribunals," he said.
Chavan said it would be helpful if this requirement of water short basins could be covered by appropriate wording in the National Water Policy.
He supported the provisions in the policy to keep aside a portion of river flows to meet the ecological needs ensuring that the low and high flow releases are proportional to the natural flow regime, including base flow contribution in the low flow season through regulated ground water use.
Chavan also sought financial support for urban bodies and public institutions on recycling and reuse of water as also for installation of electronic meters in almost a crore urban households.
"The local bodies or the consumers may not be able to defray such costs on their own. Here again, we request the Government of India to consider an appropriate package to meet such new evolving needs," he said.
Chavan said additional cost of transporting water from distant sources for supply to semi-arid regions need to be supported so that local communities are not burdened.
KTK demands permanent water dispute tribunal
Karnataka: Amid disputes between states over water-sharing, Karnataka today demanded setting up of a permanent water dispute tribunal in the Supreme Court and revisiting the Inter State Water Disputes Act to remove "loose ends" in the legislation.
"Permanent water dispute tribunal should be established in the Apex Court and its benches at all the States' High Courts on the lines of the Green Bench," Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said in his speech at the sixth meeting of the national water resources council here.
He suggested that it should have a sitting Supreme Court judge as its chairperson with multi-members from technical, environmental, geological, economical and legal fields.
Noting that present laws "create more disputes because of several loose ends" in the existing Acts, Shettar said that Inter State Water Disputes Act should be revisited.
"None of the present laws are able to establish a just water regime to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders," he said.
Without referring to Cauvery water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Shettar said in some cases Government of India stand has delayed the projects which can be otherwise.
"The absence of a water regime had been forcing us to go to the Supreme Court, by which Government of India is trying to absolve its conciliatory role which is prescribed by the Indian Constitution, which is an expected role being the Head of the federal structure, which need to be strongly established," he said.
Shettar said he made this statement because Karnataka "as a mid and upper riparian state suffered in both utilization and construction of projects which resulted in depriving the people of Karnataka their due and legal right of their share of water." Centre should leave law making to states: Akhilesh on water law
Uttar Pradesh: Opposing a proposal in the National Water Policy to create an over-arching law on water management, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said the Centre should restrict itself to deciding on the principles of such a framework and leave law making to states.
"While the UP government agrees to most of the proposals (in the draft Water Policy), the proposal to create a law on water is a sensitive issue. Water is a state subject according to the Constitution and states have a right to formulate policies keeping in mind their special needs," he said.
Yadav's speech was read out in absentia by state PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav.
He said it would be better if the Centre only formulates the basic directive principles for creating such a law.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also cautioned that any amendment to the Indian Easement Act, 1882 should be made after discussions with various stakeholders keeping in mind the social scenario in the country.
"Existing Acts, such as Indian Easements Act, 1882, Irrigation Acts, may have to be modified accordingly in as much as it appears to give proprietary rights to a land owner on groundwater under his/her land," the draft National Water Policy says.
Yadav lamented the long time taken in approving flood control schemes and said the present one year period should be curtailed.
"The entire amount for flood control projects should be released to the states in one go," he said.
He also demanded intervention of the Centre so that Pancheshwar, Nemure and Karnali dams in neighbouring Nepal could be constructed at the earliest to prevent floods in the state.
Badal opposes water regulatory authority
Punjab: Opposing establishment of a water regulatory authority, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that any revision in the national water policy should be based on the existing constitutional provisions and universally accepted riparian principles.
Participating in the deliberations at the 6th meeting of the National Water Resources Council chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Badal said water was a state subject under the Constitution and the states have exclusive power of legislation on it.
Expressing strong reservations over the establishment of a water tariff system and a water regulatory authority under the draft National Water Policy-2012, the Chief Minister opposed the move, saying these should be left to the states for taking appropriate decision.
Badal asserted that Punjab being an agrarian state was opposed to the concept of integrated planning and management of river basins and setting up of basin authorities by legislation.
"Without prejudice to our consistent stand on riparian rights, principles of equitable distribution of water should be well-defined," he said, adding that existing usage and future needs of water of a state be protected as otherwise it would directly affect the growth of the state.
The Chief Minister said water was a critical issue and tragic conflicts in the country were a result of mishandling of this sensitive issue.
He lamented that a major part of 'Punjab tragedy', for which the entire country had to pay a big price, was due to the Centre's refusal to address the river waters issue along just and internationally and nationally accepted riparian principle.
"This is one of the many areas where our decision makers in New Delhi must show greater sensitivity, statesmanship and farsightedness in handling critical issues such as water," Badal said.
Badal said the distribution of powers under the federal structure of the Constitution should in no case be tinkered with by making changes in frame work of existing laws, and added that each state has its own consideration in planning, management and use of its water resources.
He said the contribution made by each basin state to the catchment area of a river should be the main criteria for apportionment of water.
Citing the Irrigation Commission Report, 1972, which observed that the drainage area of Punjab in the Indus basin is three times that of Rajasthan and five times that of Haryana, Badal rued that yet Punjab was allocated only about 25 per cent share in Ravi-Beas waters as Rajasthan and Haryana were allocated about 50 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.
Alleging direct infringement on the freedom of states by way of imposing any integrated water resources management for the basin as a whole or sub-basin, Badal said such purported move would deprive states from their legitimate rights to plan, formulate and execute water supply schemes as per their needs.
Any integrated water management plan would lead to more conflicts among states, he said.
On subsidised irrigation to Punjab farmers, he said it was primarily done to compensate farmers to some extent keeping in view their contribution in making India self-reliant in food production, noting the price of agri produce was fixed in an "arbitrary" manner rendering it "unremunerative".
He said it is known that farming all over the world was subsidised to enable farmers achieve sustainability and survival essential for ensuring national food security.
Badal also stressed on the point that hard work of state's farmers helped in making a major contribution (over 50 per cent) to the National Food Pool.
He regretted that state's water resources were grossly inadequate and with its surface water resources fully utilised, there was great strain on ground water which was over- exploited resulting in its depletion.
Water conservation: Haryana for setting up of national fund
Haryana: Asking National Water Resources Council to deliberate on modalities for resolving inter-state water-related issues, Haryana today advocated setting up of a national fund to promote measures for conservation of water.
Haryana also rejected Punjab's suggestion that neighbouring states sharing river waters should also share the cost of flood management.
At the 6th Council meeting here, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Haryana has suffered in this regard as it neither got water from Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal despite Supreme Court orders nor did it get its share in Ravi-Beas waters, as its tribunal's final award has not been published.
On his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal's suggestion made yesterday that neighbouring states should share flood management expenses and cost of repair of flood damage, Hooda rejected the demand as "absurd" and said each state has to deal with its floods and other calamities.
Hooda lamented that Punjab enacted a law terminating water related agreements and the Centre has allowed the Presidential Reference on it to linger on for more than eight years. "This is unfair to the people of Haryana. The people of Haryana have several other grievances also," he said.
He welcomed the proposal to set up a permanent Water Disputes Tribunal at the centre to resolve disputes, but sought timely implementation of orders/directions of various tribunals and courts in this regard.
Welcoming the proposal to constitute River Basin authorities, Hooda said representation should not be made only from those states which have only nominal area in the basin.
The Haryana Chief Minister also welcomed the setting up of Water Regulatory authorities.
Hooda urged the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter, so that major contributors to the national food basket are not put to any disadvantage on this account.
He also called for convening more such meetings of the Water Resources Council and lamented that important issues pertaining to inter-state disputes had not even been listed for discussion.
Citing international practices on use of sprinkling methods for conserving water, he said the Government should consider giving incentives for adopting efficient water technologies.
The Haryana Chief Minister also talked about its share in the Ravi and Beas rivers, but lamented that it has been denied its share in power generated from Thein Dam constructed on the Ravi.
"We have been raising this issue at various forums, but there is no resolution yet," he said.
Source: http://m.indianexpress.com/
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