The cabinet approved in principle the draft Bangladesh Water Act, 2012 on Monday with a provision of maximum five-year jail term or Tk 5 million in fine or both for wasting water.
The draft act, prepared in light with the National Water Policy to give the policy a legal framework for better management and use of water resources, was passed in a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Cabinet Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuyian told reporters.
The draft would be presented to the cabinet again for final clearance after vetting by the law ministry, he said.
It stipulates that those violating the law would be sentenced up to five years in jail or fined Tk 5 million or both, depending on the level of violation, he said.
It also proposes fixing price for 'extra' water used from any source for meeting basic requirements like irrigation or personal use, the secretary said.
The cabinet had sent back the draft to the National Water Resource Council for correction when it had been placed in August last year.
The then government passed the water policy in 1999.
"It (the act) will prevent people from wasting water. After implementation of the law, it will be possible to supply pure water to the people," Bhuyian said.
"Underground and ground water levels are decreasing due to wastage of water. It happens as there is no law to check the wastage," the secretary said.
"This is a bad omen for us. The risk of quake increases when the level of water decreases," he added.
According to the draft act, the price of water would be fixed depending on the quantity of water used, the secretary said. "No one will have to pay for water used in household or farming."
In line with the policy, the draft proposes to keep the price of water 'logically less' for poor or underprivileged people, he said.
The price would be higher in case of commercial or industrial use, he added.
Former Director-General of the Water Resources Planning Orgnaisation Mohammad Shahjahan said the draft proposes to form a special tribunal to prevent water pollution and retention of water resources.
"The tribunal will take steps to assess damage caused by wasting water, try the violators of the act and collect fines," he added
He said the price of water would be fixed to ensure government's control over water.
The draft act, prepared in light with the National Water Policy to give the policy a legal framework for better management and use of water resources, was passed in a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Cabinet Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuyian told reporters.
The draft would be presented to the cabinet again for final clearance after vetting by the law ministry, he said.
It stipulates that those violating the law would be sentenced up to five years in jail or fined Tk 5 million or both, depending on the level of violation, he said.
It also proposes fixing price for 'extra' water used from any source for meeting basic requirements like irrigation or personal use, the secretary said.
The cabinet had sent back the draft to the National Water Resource Council for correction when it had been placed in August last year.
The then government passed the water policy in 1999.
"It (the act) will prevent people from wasting water. After implementation of the law, it will be possible to supply pure water to the people," Bhuyian said.
"Underground and ground water levels are decreasing due to wastage of water. It happens as there is no law to check the wastage," the secretary said.
"This is a bad omen for us. The risk of quake increases when the level of water decreases," he added.
According to the draft act, the price of water would be fixed depending on the quantity of water used, the secretary said. "No one will have to pay for water used in household or farming."
In line with the policy, the draft proposes to keep the price of water 'logically less' for poor or underprivileged people, he said.
The price would be higher in case of commercial or industrial use, he added.
Former Director-General of the Water Resources Planning Orgnaisation Mohammad Shahjahan said the draft proposes to form a special tribunal to prevent water pollution and retention of water resources.
"The tribunal will take steps to assess damage caused by wasting water, try the violators of the act and collect fines," he added
He said the price of water would be fixed to ensure government's control over water.
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