Punjab cabinet approves bill to set up water regulation authority

Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft bill to set up a Water Regulation and Development Authority to effectively man and conserve water resources of state.

Punjab Water Resources (Manment and Regulation) Bill, 2020 proposes to man and regulate water resources efficaciously, besides ensuring its judicious, equitable and sustainable utilisation, an official release said here.

water regulation authority will comprise a chairman and two or members to be appointed by government.

It will be responsible for manment and conservation of water resources of state 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, release said.

authority will also be empowered to issue directions and guidelines for conservation and manment of water resources, besides issuing tariff orders specifying charges to be imposed by entities supplying water for drinking, domestic, commercial or industrial use, it ded.

bill also proposes to constitute an visory Committee on Water Resources, to be tified by government. It will consist of experts and ex-officio members from various government departments to vise authority. authority may also eng experts on its own.

decision was taken by cabinet at its meeting here under chairmanship of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

(Representational Im Credit: PTI)