Aiming to conserve groundwater, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to bring about a stringent act under which people having submersible pumps will have to get them registered and houses of over 300 sq metre area will have to install rainwater harvesting systems.
The UP Cabinet which met in Lucknow on Tuesday, approved Uttar Pradesh Groundwater Protection Bill, which will be tabled in the upcoming Budget Session. UP Jal Shakti Minister Mahendra Singh said that under the new legislation, people having submersible pumps in houses need to register on the government portal.
“This facility is free of cost for domestic and farm sectors but charges for industrial sector will be formulated by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. People need to register within a year failing which penalty will be imposed,” he said.
“Besides, every house built on 300 square metres and more will have to set up a rainwater harvesting system. It has been made mandatory for government buildings and educational institutions. This will be implemented from panchayat to the highest level and the process will be monitored by different government agencies,” Singh said.
The minister further said that the new act would also check ground water pollution and defaulters would be penalised as per clauses of the Act.
“For first time defaulter, one would either be jailed for 6-12 months or fined between Rs 2 to 6 lakh. Second time defaulters would be jailed for 2 to 6 years and would be fined Rs 5 to 10 lakh while third time defaulters would be fined Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakh or could be jailed between 5 and seven years,” the minister informed.
Singh said that ground water in 47 blocks of UP were critical and 151 were in semi-critical stage and this new legislation aimed to improving ground water level.
In another decision, the government empowered Director of Namami Gange to approve rural drinking water projects. Earlier this power was bestowed with Commissioner, Rural Water Commission.
The Cabinet also approved direct appointment of Vyavastrha Adhikari (Management Officer) in Estate Department which. Earlier, 50 per cent officers were taken from direct cadre and 50 per cent through promotion. But now appointments would be made through State Public Service Commission.
The government also approved action against retired Tehsildar of Ferozabad, Shivdayal who illegally transferred 0.619 hectare land. In 2009, an enquiry was ordered and five years later the probe team submitted its report in 2014. A penalty of Rs 1.5 crore was imposed on him. Government spokesman Sidhathnath Singh said that since he retired from service, the government decided to charge 2 per cent annually from his pension benefits.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved creation of Obra as Tehsil with headquarters in Markundi in Sonebhadra district. This will be the fourth tehsil of the district.
Also, Sugar Corporation has been asked to return 5.60 hectare of land acquired in Hardoi to set up a sugar mill in 2015. The price of the land was Rs 123.16 crore. The Cabinet cancelled the agreement and allowed transfer of the land to UPSIDC.
The Cabinet also approved Governor Anandiben Patel’s address during the joint session of the House and allowed tabling of CAG reports.