Ministry of Jal Shakti has prepared a draft National Water Framework Bill, 2016 which seeks to provide an overarching national legal framework based on principles for protection, conservation, regulation and management of water as a vital and stressed natural resource, under which legislation and executive action on water at all levels of governance can take place. The Bill was circulated to States/UTs and the concerned Central Ministries for obtaining their comments. Comments on the draft bill have been received from 11 States viz., Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand whereas, interim response have been received from 5 States/UTs viz., Uttarakhand, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, NCT of Delhi and Lakshadweep.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu  in a  written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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AS