The Punjab Cabinet, led by Captain Amarinder Singh, approved the draft of Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2018.

Facts :

• The Punjab Cabinet approved the draft of a bill aimed at ensuring judicious, equitable and sustainable utilisation and management of the state's critical water resources.
• According to the draft Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2018, the proposed Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) would have a chairman, and two members to be appointed by the state government.
• The authority would have powers to issue directions and guidelines for conservation and management of the state's water resources.
• It would also have the power to issue tariff orders specifying the charges to be imposed by entities supplying water for any use such as drinking, domestic, commercial or industrial use except agriculture.
• The bill further proposes setting up an advisory committee on water resources, headed by the chairman of the authority.
• The panel would comprise experts and ex-officio members from various government departments to advise the authority.The authority may also engage experts on its own.
• It shall have and maintain a separate fund in which the grants/loans would be credited by the state government.
• The draft bill also proposes to empower the government to issue to the authority such general or specific directions in writing in the matters of policy involving public interest and the authority shall be bound to follow and act upon such directions.

Background :

• Expressing concern over the depleting water table in the state, the Chief Minister said that if immediate steps were not taken for conservation and management of water, many parts of the state would turn into desert in 15 to 20 years. “We owe this (thrust on water management) to our children and the coming generations.”
• Referring to his recent visit to Israel, the Chief Minister said that he was highly impressed by the water management and irrigation techniques adopted by them, transforming their country from a water scarce to a water surplus one. He said the visionary laws and policies, measurement and proper pricing of water, and adoption of innovative technology, coupled with education and awareness, had worked wonders for Israel.

Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Punjab :

• Department of Water Supply and Sanitation was initially known a Public Health Branch of PWD which came into existence in the year 1956. Prior to that it was functioning as a part of Building and Roads Branch.
• The department was responsible for all types of Public Health Engineering Works viz. Water Supply and Sanitary installation in Government Buildings/Institutions and Public Health Engineering works in Urban Estate, grain markets etc.
• In the year 1975, functions of Punjab PWD (Public Health Branch) were vertically split up into three wings viz. Govt. Works, Rural Water Supply Works and Works of Local Body department.
• The Govt. Works Wing was responsible for Public Health Works in all Govt. buildings, Urban Estate, Harijan Basties and grain markets etc. Rural Water Supply Wing was responsible for design, construction and maintenance of Rural Water Supply Schemes whereas Local Bodies Wing was responsible for the provision of water supply and sewerage in Municipal Areas.
• On 1st January 1977, Local Body Works Wing was converted into a Board and named as Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board.Subsequently Public Health department was restructured by creating two Rural Water Supply Wings i.e. RWS (South) & RWS (North) and one Govt. Works Wing.
• At the Secretariat Level Department was under the Administrative Control of Principal Secretary to Govt. Punjab Department of Public Health.
• The works of the Rural Water Supply wing and Govt. works wing were combined at the level of Superintending Engineer in May, 2003.
• Accordingly, the Rural Water Supply Divisions and Govt. works Divisions worked under one Superintending Engineer and the wings of the department were named as WSS (South), WSS (North) and WSS (Central) headed by three Chief Engineers.
• The name of the Public Health Department was changed to Department of Water Supply and Sanitation in the year 2004.
• Recently on 31-08-09, the existing Rural Water & Govt. Works wings at the level of Divisional / Sub Divisional offices have been restructured and further reorganized to achieve the following objectives:

            (i) Optimum utilization of available manpower.
            (ii) To ensure better implementation and closer supervision of Water Supply Schemes through even distribution of work amongst various divisions.
           (iii) To enhance efficiency of the department and to bring visible improvement in the quality of Operation and Maintenance of schemes.

• Now after the above restructuring/reorganization of the department, the Rural Water Supply (RWS) and Govt. Works (GW) wings of the department have been merged completely and the area of jurisdictions of the offices of Divisions / Sub Divisions has also been earmarked.