MP govt all set to declare Narmada river a living entity
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BRING A RESOLUTION IN THE HOUSE ON MAY 3. THAT WOULD MEAN THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO DECLARE A CUSTODIAN FOR RIVER
The Madhya Pradesh government will bring a resolution in the state assembly on Wednesday to have a regulatory framework to declare Narmada river a living entity, first state in the country to do so.
A decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday chaired by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, government spokesperson and parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra said.
The officials said the passage of the resolution, which is a foregone conclusion, would be followed by the process to enact a law to declare river a living entity. That would mean that the government will have to declare a custodian of the river, who can ensure its protection.
“Officers are deliberating on it. It’s not a small issue. There are so many legal implications and complications associated with declaring a river a living entity. Hence, nothing will be done in a hurry”, a senior officer told HT.
Uttrakhand high court in its judgment in March declared Ganga and Yamuna as living entities and gave them legal rights. The court made state chief secretary as custodian of the river in the hill state.
The official said declaring a river a living entity has a flip side as anyone can sue the river for causing damage such as during floods like the government on behalf of the river can penalise someone for causing pollution or damaging river’s aquatic life.
“For instance, if a person’s house is damaged in a flood or a life is lost due to it he could also move the court to seek compensation and file a criminal case against the river,” the official said. That’s why, he said , the government was considering what would be the rights of people and what would be the rights of Narmada river if it was declared a living entity.