Incorporating concept of Water Regulatory Authority in proposed Water Policy
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Water Resources Rowell Lyngdoh said that the State Government would examine the possibility of incorporating the concept of the Water Regulatory Authority (WRB) in the proposed Water Policy.
While replying to a supplementary question raised by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh during the Question Hour on Monday, the Deputy Chief Minister said that if there is a need, the concept would definitely be adopted in the proposed policy. Earlier, while pointing out that as per the National Water Policy, 2012, which is the guide book of the proposed State Water Policy, emphasis has been laid on the constitution of the WRB the UDP legislator asked whether “the WRB would play any role in the water management system as per the proposed policy.”
The UDP legislator also wanted to know whether the concept of Water User Association (WUA) has been included in the proposed policy. In reply, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the concept of WUA is already incorporated in the draft of the policy.
Earlier, while replying to the question raised by HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that the draft of the policy has been re-circulated for further consultations and efforts are being made to finalise it at the earliest.
Unhappy with this reply, Basaiawmoit said that the Government has done a ‘tremendous job’ by prefixing the word re-circulated in the reply. “The status of the policy has remained the same,” he said.
