Law to regulate groundwater use in the offing

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 27. The Government is contemplating legislation to regulate use of groundwater, according to the Minister for Water Resources, Mr. H.K.Patil, here on Wednesday.

Mr. Patil said it was not possible to introduce the bill in the ensuing session. However, preliminary exercises would be completed in the next six months. The Centre had passed such a Bill, he added.

Mr. Patil was talking to presspersons after releasing the recommendations of a three-day international workshop on integrated water management held recently.

Dr. Ken Gnanakan, speaking on behalf of the ACTS ministries, said the workshop had recommended that integrated water resource management should involve total participation of stakeholders, professional bodies, planners, providers and policy makers at all levels providing holistic management of water to ensure wholesomeness.

The workshop also advocated judicious consumption of fresh water to conserve the limited supplies. Waste water should be valued as a resource and its handling should form an important component of integrated water resource management.

Dr. K.Siddappa, Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University, said 170 scientists, including 20 from outside the country, attended the workshop. A project on increasing groundwater charging and improvement of quality of water was being planned on the university campus.

Mr. Yellappa Reddy, environment expert, said the workshop had discussed technology for conversion of waste water.

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Section  : Southern States
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