Tamil Nadu seeks contempt action against the Centre for not constituting the Cauvery Management Board
With the Centre failing to constitute the Cauvery Management Board within the time frame stipulated by the Supreme Court order, Tamil Nadu government has approached the apex court seeking contempt action against the Centre for willful disobedience. Meanwhile, citing sensitiveness of the issue, the Centre has sought a three-month extension to formulate a scheme as dates for the Assembly elections in Karnataka have already been declared. As per the judgement, the Centre was asked to constitute a management board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee within six weeks.
Over four lakh people in Telangana to get access to safe potable water by 2019
The Telangana government hopes to deliver safe drinking water to 4.2 lakh people in the state through a project supported by noted international non-profit, Safe Water Network. As part of the project, iJal safe water stations will be set up across rural and urban areas to provide clean drinking water free of any fluoride or other harmful contaminants. Currently, there are hundred such stations that are functional with 30 more stations with six-level filtration technology in the offing.
Tripura government to harvest rainwater on a massive scale to provide security to remote areas
The state government has decided to take up rainwater harvesting on a large scale to ensure continued water access to towns and villages located in hilly and remote regions. Tripura receives close to 2200 mm of rainfall every year and it would be a shame if people faced drinking water crisis. In addition, the government has also decided to set up reverse osmosis water treatment plants and water ATMs that function on a private-public partnership to ensure drinking water supply in remote areas.
Supreme Court directs states and UTs to frame solid waste disposal policy in three months
Taking strong exception to orders on solid waste management being taken lightly, the Supreme Court has asked all states and union territories to frame a policy for the disposal of solid waste in three months. A bench comprising of justices M. B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta rebuked the Centre and state governments for not acting on orders passed by the court in this regard and remarked that India would drown in garbage if this continued.
Swachhagrahis to take pledge to push Swachha Bharat Abhiyan
To take the cleanliness movement forward, the Prime Minister has decided to launch a campaign called the 'Chalo Champaran - From Satyagrah to Swachhagrah' where 20,000 sanitation motivators or swachhagrahis will take a pledge to push Swachha Bharat Abhiyan. Swachhagrahis will focus on changing behaviour and sustaining the desired change by adopting community approaches to sanitation to motivate the masses.
This is a roundup of policy matters published between March 27 and April 2, 2018. Also, read the news this week.