Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 21
The Nagaland Groundwater (Regulation & Control of Development and Management) Bill, 2020 have been introduced today at the ongoing 11th session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here.
The bill was moved by Minister for Geology & Mining and Soil & Water Conservation V Kashiho Sangtam.
The main objective of the proposed Bill is to regulate, control of development and management of groundwater resource in the state.
It aims to enforce and implement with proper regulatory mechanism by systematically and scientifically exploiting groundwater resource of the state for long term planning and sustainable management.
In the recent years, it has been observed that several private groundwater drilling parties have carried out groundwater abstraction without proper knowledge and understanding of the groundwater regime in the State which may impede balancing between natural recharge and withdrawal of groundwater.
Considering the objective and reasons stated, it is felt expedient to introduce this Bill empowering to recognize and register drilling agencies and users, generate data base, Artificial Recharge and augmentation, dynamic groundwater resource estimation, water quality assessment, conservation and monitoring, Kashiho stated in the statement of object and reasons.
Nagaland Village & Tribal Council (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 introduced
The Nagaland Village and Tribal Council (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 have also been introduced on the floor of the House.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio moved for introduction of this bill on behalf of Deputy Chief and Minister in-charge of Home, Roads & Bridges Minister Y Patton, who was on leave.
In statement of objects and reasons which was tabled in the House, Patton stated that the Village Councils in the State are constituted under the Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978 (hereinafter referred as the Act), and are governed by its provisions.
On the basis of experiences gathered on various matters related to the functioning of the Village Councils, there has arisen a need for modifying and further clarifying certain provisions of the Act.
There is a requirement for making additions in the qualification criteria for becoming a member of the Village Council so that the possibility of non-indigenous persons becoming member of the Village Council is prevented along with those persons who are no more the permanent residents of the village. There is also a need for coming up with clear provisions regarding the tenure of the Councils as well as bringing out clearly that any dispute regarding its constitution shall be brought before the State Government for resolution, he stated.
Patton stated that the Village Councils have been functioning as customary courts, under the Rules of Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland, 1937, as amended, but the enabling section in the Act was removed by an earlier amendment, and there is an express need for re-inserting this very important provision in the Act so that there is absolute clarity regarding the customary court powers of the Village Councils as well as of the higher appellate customary courts in the District.
He stated that the provision allowing the state government to frame rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act which was there earlier, got deleted in one of the amendments, and it is vital that a provision giving clear powers to the State Government to frame Rules is inserted again in the Act.
On financial memorandum, Patton stated that the proposed Bill will not entail any extra expenditure from the consolidated fund of the state.
The village councils shall continue to be administered by the existing administrative set up of the home department, Patton added.
Later, NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer informed the House that the consideration and passing of both the Bills would be taken up on March 22.
