Govt puts Modi’s GWRA on the back burner

Gandhinagar: Prime minister Narendra Modi because the Gujarat chief minister in 2012 had formed an formidable Gujarat Water Regulatory Authority (GWRA) with an aim to improving management of water resources within the state, but the state government, it seems, has put the idea within the cold storage. The thought at the back of the GWRA was once to introduce judicious use of the state’s water resources via regulatory measures but in spite of the state facing acute water disaster, the state government has now not performed anything to revive the defunct frame. After formation of the GWRA, the federal government by no means initiated steps to appoint any chairperson or contributors within the authority. The GWRA was once formed to play a key position in regulating the limited resources and making sure an even use of each floor and floor water. One of the primary functions as according to the February 14, 2012 gazette notification of GWRA was once to keep an eye on water tariff system and costs for floor and sub-surface water used for domestic, agriculture, commercial and different functions. It was once additionally meant to decide and keep an eye on the distribution of water to more than a few classes of users. It was once additionally expected to periodically assessment and observe the water sector costs and revenues.

Parbat Patel, minister of state for irrigation and water supply, when contacted, said, “I'm really not aware of such a authority. I will have to test. However, there may be indubitably a need of such authority and the federal government will do the requisite in this direction.”