As State governments had adequate expertise and the Central Water Commission was also associated with dam safety aspects, “there appears to be no pressing need or necessity to have a Central legislation on the issue,” the Chief Minister said. Recalling her earlier opinions to the similar bill, introduced by the UPA government, she said it was unfortunate that none of the views already conveyed in the earlier bill appeared to have been considered while preparing the draft bill. Though any legislation to regulate dam safety must ensure the functions and rights of the State governments, there was a clear indication in the Dam Safety Bill, 2010 that the legislation was to apply only to those States whose legislatures had passed resolutions. “No such indication has been given in the present draft and the intent appears to be to extend the legislation throughout the country,” the Chief Minister pointed out. Despite the fact that dams and reservoirs constructed on a river flowing within the State fell squarely within the State government’s competence, the overriding powers proposed in the National Dam Safety Organisation to inspect them was “against the spirit of the Constitution”, she said.

Source: The Hindu September 11, 2016 22:19 UTC