Adoption of much-needed Water Policy & Plan in J&K
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 4: In an utter disregard to the directions of the State High Court and Cabinet, a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has failed to examine the proposal regarding adoption of Water Policy and Plan in Jammu and Kashmir despite being aware of the fact that such a step is imperative for proper development, management, planning, utilization and monitoring of water resources.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in the year 2010 Jammu and Kashmir State Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act was enacted for proper regulation and utilization of water resources. In terms of Section 4 of the Act, the Government was required to prepare the State Water Policy and Plan for the development, management, planning, utilization and monitoring of water resources in the State keeping in view several objectives laid down in the legislation.
However, for seven years there was absolutely no focus on this vital aspect of the law as if Legislation was enacted just to gather dust in the official files. It was only after the State High Court admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the subject and started issuing notices seeking to know the steps taken by the Government to implement the law in letter and spirit that Department of Public Health Engineering woke up from the deep slumber.
On various occasions, the Department of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control submitted before the High Court that steps were taken to formulate the first ever State Water Policy and Plan but dilly-dallying approach continued in completion of exercise and High Court was constrained to reprimand those at the helm of affairs in the department.
Even few months back the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Department of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control had to tender unconditional apology before the High Court for failure to cause appearance and submit status report, sources said.
Finally, the draft of the State Water Policy was prepared and placed before the State Cabinet on June 7, 2017 and after discussion it was decided to get the draft examined in detail by a Cabinet Sub-Committee. Thereafter, the General Administration Department vide Order No.745 dated June 14, 2017 constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee to complete the task assigned by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and comprised of Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Minister for Social Welfare, ARI and Trainings, Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control was asked to submit its report within a period of one month—by July 14, 2017.
“However, the Cabinet Sub-Committee has failed to complete the assigned task till date”, sources said, adding “what to talk of examining the proposal regarding adoption of State Water Policy and Plan, the Committee has even failed to meet once although deadline has expired 20 days back”.
“We had submitted copies of the draft Water Policy to the Chairman as well as members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee strictly as per the decision of Cabinet but no further progress has been made”, an officer of the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department said on the condition of anonymity.
“It seems that Cabinet Sub-Committee has yet not taken seriously the directions of the State Cabinet as well as High Court”, sources said and asked, “what is the fun of constituting Cabinet Sub-Committee if non-seriousness is to be shown towards the assigned task”.
Though several telephonic calls were made to the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control as well as Administrative Secretary of the Department to ascertain the reason behind delay in holding of meeting of Cabinet Sub-Committee yet they didn’t respond. However, Minister for Revenue, Abdul Rehman Veeri, who is also Member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee said, “hopefully the meeting will be convened shortly to deliberate upon the draft of State Water Policy and Plan”.
As per the draft, the objectives of the Water Policy would be to conserve and manage available water resources in most economical and sustainable manner, drought and flood management on scientific lines, planning and management of irrigation and multipurpose projects involving varied socio-economic aspects, ensuring sustainable and conjunctive use of surface and ground water; promotion, conservation and augmentation of traditional water resources and use of scientific and innovative techniques for prevention and reduction of pollution of surface and ground water resources and improvement in quality of water etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel