Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
1. State Irrigation and Drainage Acts
2. River Boards Act, 1956
3. Inter-state Water Dispute Tribunal Awards
4. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments
5. The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
6. The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006
7. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
8. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
9. The Indian Forest Act, 1927
10. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
11. The Environment Protection Act, 1986
12. The Electricity Act, 2003
13. Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority Act (2005)
These laws are focused on how to exploit river water for irrigation
or agriculture, industry, drinking water and water for other domestic
uses. At the time when these laws were made, the focus was largely on
utilization of water and not conservation.
The EIA Notification of 2006 and The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974 do deal with river water, but the focus is on
pollution and not the quantum of water.
The forest and environment protection laws deal with rivers and
other water bodies within the overall biodiversity and ecosystem. There is
no exclusive focus on rivers as such.
The river is not seen as an entity which provides for the
environment, wild life, and human activity. Madhya Pradesh, in a first
legislation of its kind, declared river Narmada as a living entity. 10 This
change in perception will influence our relatiosnhip with rivers.
Hitherto, the focus has largely been on the supply side: increasing
the availability of water for consumption and productive uses, assuming
water to be a plentiful resource. This includes the assumption that rivers
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