AREIDA expresses alarm over ground water rules in State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers' Association (AREIDA) has alleged that people residing in all urban areas of the State are facing an alarming situation due to an order of the Central Ground Water Authority.

AREIDA president PK Sharma said on Monday that the Central Ground Water Authority has directed all ground water users, including domestic users staying in residential apartments, along with group housing societies/ government water supply agencies, bulk water suppliers in urban, areas amongst others, to (a) mandatorily register with the Authority by payment of registration fees; (b) Obtain certificate from local Government authority that they are unable to supply water; (c) pay penalty of Rs 1 lakh; and (d) fit peizometer with digital facility and pay for the quantity of water consumed, as water abstraction charges as per meter reading; (e) install sewerage treatment plant in their buildings and use the recycled water for toilet flushing, gardening and car washing. The last date for compliance has been fixed on September 30 next.

Sharma said, "With no details published in the said public notice we had to engage a legal expert to examine the matter. We find that there is a notification (SO 3289 (E) dated 24th September, 2020) issued by Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) (Central Ground Water Authority), Government of India, on the basis of which this order has been made.

"They have claimed that a number of public notices have been issued, in newspapers since 2015. Unfortunately, no effective steps were taken by them to generate awareness on this confusing aspect amongst the public, who does not have knowledge of legal intricacy, and the people of Assam were not well conversant this issue more so since water resources is a subject in the State List of the Constitution of India vide Entry 17 List-II (State List) and we have been under the firm belief that in Assam ground water is regulated as per constitutional mandate by the State Government."

Sharma pointed out that a situation has arisen where the Government is unable to provide water in spite of its abundant availability in the mighty Brahmaputra and citizens are already bearing the burden of water tax levied by the municipalities even without water supply.

He said that in Guwahati, Government water supply schemes cover only 30 per cent of the population. The condition in the rest of the State is even worse, "leaving the helpless people with no other alternative but to solely rely upon ground water for their survival, at their own cost.

"Now they would be additionally burdened with multiple taxes for water consumption, by the aforesaid notifications in addition to the Assam Ground Water Control and Regulation Act 2012 and the municipality water tax," Sharma said.

Moreover, he said, it is technically impossible to install sewerage treatment plant along with new plumbing network in a completed and occupied building. Sharma appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to rescue the people of Assam from such onslaught of multiple taxes on water, which is a basic necessity for life.

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