Assam Cabinet Approves Bill to Protect Urban Water Bodies

Guwahati, August 14, 2024: The Assam Cabinet has given its nod to the Assam Urban Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Bill, 2024, marking a significant step toward preserving and conserving water bodies in urban areas across the state. The proposed legislation will now be placed before the Assam Legislative Assembly for further discussion and approval.

The bill is designed to ensure the protection, rejuvenation, and regulation of water bodies within the Master Plan Areas of all towns and cities in Assam. It includes provisions for preserving natural water channels, maintaining transparency through GIS portals, and protecting water bodies from encroachment.

Private water bodies with an area of two acres or more, along with community water bodies such as ponds and tanks, will fall under the purview of this bill, irrespective of their ownership. However, private water bodies smaller than two acres and those located in reserved forests or wildlife sanctuaries are exempt.

The bill mandates that all water bodies in the Master Plan areas be scheduled, with detailed information on Dag numbers and village names, ensuring proper demarcation and protection from encroachment. Authorities will be empowered to formulate schemes and projects to aid in conservation efforts.

In addition, the protection and conservation of these water bodies are expected to enhance the local drainage system by increasing the retention capacity of these bodies, thereby mitigating flash floods in urban areas.

To implement the provisions of the bill, two levels of committees will be established: one at the district level and another at the state level. The district-level committee will conduct a comprehensive survey to identify water bodies for inclusion in the schedule.

The bill also imposes strict penalties for violations, including up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of ₹1,00,000. Offenders will be required to restore the water body to its original state.

This initiative by the Assam government underscores its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable urban development, aiming to address the pressing issue of water body preservation in the state’s rapidly urbanizing regions.

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