The Times of India 03.04.2013
Water regulatory bill deferred
Kerala State Water Resources Regulatory Authority Bill, piloted by water
resources minister P J Joseph in the assembly on Monday, won’t be
passed during the current assembly session. The subject committee of the
assembly, which met here on Tuesday, could not give a final shape to
the amendments for the Bill.
Sources said along with LDF MLAs, a
few members of the UDF also raised strong objections to certain clauses
in the Bill. Following this, the subject committee decided to study the
issue in detail and, if needed, seek public opinion before the final
draft is presented in the assembly.
“When it was taken up for
debate, members wanted a detailed study of some clauses. Hence, we
decided not to press for the Bill during the current session,” P J
Joseph told TOI. He, however, ruled out the chances for referring the
Bill to a select committee so that views of general public can also be
incorporated.
It is learnt that the clause that maintains to
fix the tariff for drinking water supply based on the cost of the
project and other expenses incurred was the one which invited the wrath
of the members. Cutting across political lines, MLAs shared apprehension
that it would shoot up water bills and turn water an unaffordable
commodity for the common man. The minister himself was against another
clause which might give uncontrolled power to fix tariff to the
authority.
The Bill was formulated by the government in 2011 as
suggested by the 13th Finance Commission. It was first promulgated as
an ordinance on November 30, 2011. The ordinance had been renewed every
six months and the Bill was first introduced in the assembly on Monday.
The Bill suggests forming an authority, on the lines of Kerala state
electricity regulatory authority, to control the drinking water
distribution. The three-member authority will monitor water supply and
decide on the amount of water required for various sections of
consumers. It will also insist on the quality norms to be followed by
various agencies engaged in drinking water distribution.
