Policies, Laws and Regulations

This document is a model bill for the regulation and control of the groundwater. It provides the details of the definitions and the process of implementation of the bill and includes:

• The title, extent and commencement of the Act
• Definitions of terms included in the Act
• Mode of establishment of a groundwater authority
• Details on powers to notify areas for control and regulation of groundwater and on the use of groundwater in  notified areas
• Details of the grant of permit required to extract and use groundwater in the notified area
• Registration of existing users in the notification areas
• Mechanism of registration of new wells in the non notified areas
• Power resting with the authority to alter, amend or vary the terms of the permit
• Cancellation of permit or certificate of registration or license
• Powers of the groundwater authority
• Service of orders
• Delegation of powers and duties
• Details of mechanisms for dealing with offences
• The powers resting with the state government to make rules for the implementation of the Act.

The document provides the details of the Environment Protection Act (1986) and includes:

• Information on the short title, extend and commencement of the Act
• Definitions of terms included in the Act
• General powers of the central government in implementing the Act
• Appointment of officers and their powers and functions
• Power of central government to give directions
• Rules to regulate environmental pollution
• Details of rules for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution

The document describes the mechanism for implementation of the rules of the Act by providing information on the:

The key provisions of the draft bill include an institutional framework for regulatory commissions, their role and functions, accountability to the legislature and interface with the markets and the people. The proposed bill, if enacted, will supplement the existing sector-specific laws that set out sectoral objectives.

This document highlights the vulnerable status of the state in terms of natural disasters and highlights the urgent need for a disaster management strategy for the state.

The objectives of the Kerala state disaster management policy include:

• To develop and ensure policy, institutional and techno – legal frameworks for disaster management in the state
• To develop and maintain proactive governance and systems, and promote research and development for Disaster risk management strategies for  disaster prevention and mitigation.
• To establish effective disaster crisis management through the organisation and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects of emergencies with respect to response, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
• To strengthen the capacities and resilience of vulnerable communities with special emphasis on empowerment of women and establish community level systems for pre, during and post disaster interventions.
• To build capacities and promote positive changes in the administrative systems, procedures and personnel that would facilitate efficient and effective pre and post disaster activities.
• To institutionalise disaster management in government as envisaged in DM Act, 2005 and to mainstream disaster management in to developmental planning.

This document provides the details of the Rainwater Harvesting policy for the State of Goa and is aimed at providing guidance to all the concerned departments for the implementation of the policy in the state and information to the public.

The objectives of this policy are to:

The  mission of the Rajasthan Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (RUHHP - 06) is:

• To provide shelter to all the sections of the population
• To ensure sustainable development of human settlements
• To ensure a better quality of life for the population
• To adopt a multisectoral approach and involve and use the potential of all levels of stakeholders.

The RUHHP-06 is broadly in consonance with latest National  Housing and Habitat Policy-2005 (Ist draft has been issued). The document goes on to highlight the present urban and  rural situation in Rajasthan, the increasing population density in the urban areas because of migration of people from rural to urban areas and the housing issues arising because of this increased density of population in urban areas.

The policy thus focuses on balanced development, promotion of in situ-urbanisation, vertical construction and the use of sustainable development models.

The Gujarat integrated township policy by the Gujarat Urban Development Company (GUDC) (Government of Gujarat) has been designed towards promoting the development of townships with high quality built in environments and services with reliable infrastructure.  This has been done by the Gujarat government with the aim of attracting investments in knowledge based activities and businesses, especially IT based businesses, in a manner that directly benefits the youth of the state. The infrastructure is planned to be zero impact in terms of waste management and self sufficient in terms of facilities for education, health and other aspects of social welfare

It is proposed that the development of integrated townships be done through private, market initiatives. The Government’s role will be to support and facilitate the market operations and regulating it only to the extent required to realise public policy objectives. The proposed ‘Township Policy’ aims to provide a framework for ensuring that this happens in an efficient manner in predefined areas for township development.

This  policy document by the Government of Orissa outlines the draft infrastructure policy designed to promote development of the state of Orissa. The policy promotes private sector participation through provision of guidelines for private investments in infrastructure.

It encourages public private partnership, and provides a broader institutional and legal framework for implementation of projects through cross sectoral perspective.