Water Management

Having regard to the potential of availability of groundwater and other relevant factors, the government, in consultation with the cell, may declare, by notification, any area in the state as a scheduled area.

As per the  Bihar irrigation act (1997) all irrigation works are to vest in the Government.

Arunachal Pradesh water resources management authority bill (2006) provides for the establishment of the Arunachal Pradesh water resources management authority to regulate water resources within the state of Arunachal Pradesh, facilitate and ensure judicious, equitable and sustainable management, allocation and utilisation of water resources, fix the rates for use of water for agriculture, industrial, drinking and other purposes and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002 repealed the APWALTA Ordinance as well as the AP Ground Water (Regulation for Drinking Water Purposes) Act, 1996. Under this Act an Authority has been constituted at the State, District and Mandal level and administrators for the same were to be appointed.

The modalities for the same appointment of the administrator, terms of office of the nominated members, resignation, removal from authority, allowances, constitution of the District and Mandal authority, meetings of the State, District and Mandal authorities have been worked out.

This act was legislated in 1997 to create the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Development Corporation for promotion and operation of irrigation projects, command area development and schemes for drinking water and industrial water supply to harness the water of rivers of the state of Andhra Pradesh and for related matters including flood control. 

The Swajaldhara Guidelines are an outcome of the Sector Reforms Project launched on a pilot basis in the year 1999-2000 and presently scaled up for the whole country from the Tenth Plan. Thus, if the village/block level Panchayati Raj Institutions or User Groups come forward and agree to adhere to the reform principles, water supply schemes can be taken up by them in those areas.

The Central Pollution Control Board, and State Pollution Control Boards composition, terms and conditions of service of members are defined in Sections 3-12 of water (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974.

The act to provide for the establishment of River Boards for the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys empowers the Central Government, on a request received in this behalf from a State Government or otherwise, by notification in the Official Gazette, to establish a River Board for advising the Governments interested in relation to such matters concerning the regulation or development of an inter-State river or river valley or any specified part thereof. 

If it appears to the Government of any State that a water dispute with the Government of another State has arisen or is likely to arise by reason of the fact that the interests of the State, or of any of the inhabitants thereof, in the waters of an inter-State river or river valley have been, or are likely to be, affected prejudicially it can request the Central Government under Section 3 of the Act to refer the water dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication.

This section on the IELRC site contains selected Indian Supreme Court and High Court cases related to water. The decisions related to water and sanitation taken by the Supreme Court since the early years after independence also includes a few cases dating back to colonial times. Notable cases include -