Ordinance promulgated to protect, develop ponds

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News service

Chandigarh, June 20

Haryana has decided to improve its poor water management with the help of a special authority that will keep a watch on state’s water resources.

The state on Wednesday promulgated the State Pond and Water Management Authority Ordinance, 2018 to develop, protect, and rejuvenate ponds and water bodies. The objective is to reduce the overexploitation of groundwater. The ordinance will come into force once the government notifies it.

It will apply to all ponds in the state, except those having an area of less than 0.5 acres and those located on private land or in notified forest area. Besides a chairperson, the authority would have district committees and monitoring committees.

The Chief Minister will be the chairperson, while two ministers — one from the Irrigation and Water Resources Department and the other from the Development and Panchayats Department — will be the senior vice-chairpersons. A person of eminence in the field of water resources will be the executive vice-chairperson. The authority will also have 11 members, two non-official members and a District Pond Management Officer.

As per the ordinance, the executive vice-chairperson will hold the position for five years or till the time he attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier. The non-official members will have a two-year tenure, while the tenure of ex-officio members will coincide with their term in office.

The authority will survey and study all ponds, analyse the quality of water irrigation and other purposes, and take steps to conserve, beautify and clean the ponds. It will also promote community participation for conservation and environmental impact assessment for the maintenance of ponds.

The government will constitute district-level consultation and monitoring committees. Minister in charge of the district grievance committee will be its chairperson.

The ordinance has made certain acts by public illegal. No person will be allowed to construct any structure around the pond or in the catchment area. Dumping of debris will be punishable, as will be the discharge of untreated municipal or industrial effluents into the pond directly or indirectly.

Gram panchayats have been given the power to seize any equipment or machinery that may be used to cause harm to ponds. This includes boats and amphibian vehicles. In case of violation, the ordinance has proposed a fine of up to Rs 25,000 and imprisonment that may extend up to three months or even both. Every successive offence under the ordinance will attract double the punishment.

The government and private organisations will fund the authority.

What'll be illegal

• No person will be allowed to construct any structure around the pond or in the catchment area
• Dumping of debris will be punishable, as will be the discharge of untreated municipal or industrial effluents into the pond directly or indirectly