Only two riparian states-Bihar and Himachal Pradesh-have responded to the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) recommendations made around two years ago.

Whereas all states were asked to send action-taken report on recommendations in May 2011, Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat told a meeting of the board today that only Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have responded so far. He urged the remaining states to also send in their responses at the earliest.

Top planners of the country have asserted that pricing and rationing are the most important tools to make optimal use of the most precious natural resource - water - and achieve sustainable development even though states, bound by political compulsions and fiercely protective of control over water management, may never agree to it.

Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia says pricing of water and rationing by regulation are the most effective tools to stop the gross misuse of water resources, even though they are very difficult decisions.

Ensure equitable distribution of water for urban and rural areas, and for wildlife: organic farmer

The State government has been urged to formulate a water policy for the Cauvery basin to harness the resource in a judicious and effective manner. The suggestion comes in the wake of unprecedented drought and failure of monsoon this year and the imperatives of bracing up for a dry summer in Mysore and surrounding regions which depend on Cauvery in the months ahead.

Ranchi, Dec.

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed his opposition to any transfer of water from river basins before ‘within basin requirements’ were taken into consideration and wanted a permanent

Bihar’s Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said the provision for central regulation and control of water resources is unconstitutional and brazen violation of the fede