NEW DELHI: Concerned over poor upkeep and encroachment of water bodies across the country, a parliamentary standing committee has asked the Centre to devise a system to ensure better administration and monitoring of upkeep in all states.
Parliamentary standing committee on water resources in its report tabled in the parliament said that although having a pivotal role in management of water resources, the central ministry has made no efforts to keep itself abreast of the ground situation with regard to state of water bodies in the country.
It recommended that in order to enable an objective assessment of water bodies and their condition, it should be made mandatory to build a database incorporating information from states.
The committee observed with concern that Uttar Pradesh government has informed that there has been no encroachment on its water bodies during the last 10 years but the records of the Ministry of Urban Development shows that as many as 99 urban water bodies have been encroached.
“The central government should vigorously pursue the state government to include water bodies in land records so that they are immediately able to take action against the encroachers and thereby get such water bodies free from encroachment,” it said.
The committee was also distressed to note that water quality in water bodies, which were traditionally playing a major role as an alternative source for catering to domestic and agriculture needs, has been deteriorating. It also observed that the condition of water bodies has degraded due to their negligence and poor maintenance.