Mumbai: Maharashtra Government wants to
ensure safe drinking water to people by making it binding for
natural drinking water resources to be kept clean.
"A Bill regarding the issue is likely to be introduced
in the winter session of the Assembly, beginning from December
8 at Nagpur," an official from Law and Judicial Department
said.
The Bill would make it binding on industries, local
government bodies and individuals to keep natural water
resources like lakes, dams, wells and rivers, clean. The
Government can take action for violating the law, the official
said.
"Considering necessity of providing clean drinking
water to the people across the state, the law is being drafted
by Water Resources and Sanitation Department," the official
said.
It has been found that some industries pollute water
resources by discharging contaminated water directly into the
lakes. Stringent action can be taken against industries with
the help of the law, the official said.
The law would also make local government bodies
accountable for the contamination of drinking water. An
incident like the one where thousands of dead fish were found
in Bhatsa lake, a major source of drinking water to Mumbai,
last year can be avoided with these measures, the official
said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 03, 2009, 21:42