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Title: Need to include water as a subject in Concurrent list or Union list by suitably amending the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.
SHRI RAJAIAH SIRICILLA (WARANGAL): It is well known that there is no culture without agriculture. There is no agriculture without water. Water is an important natural costliest component among all other resources. We know, we cannot create water and it is available naturally. Fortunately, India has abundant rainfall. It is about around 1000 MM per annum. There are certain countries which does not have rainfall at all i.e. close to zero. We are facing the peculiar situation wherein one part of the country is affected by drought and the other part by floods. Both are causing damage and threat to the country. As per the statistics, 10 to 15 per cent of the available water only is being utilized for the agriculture purpose and 85% to 90% available water is going into sea. But there are several disputes in inter-state or Inter-regional sharing of water. Several dispute and awards are pending at various courts and committees. It is consuming several years, man hours and court hours in settlement of the issues. It was published in journals that there will be a world war on account of want of drinking water in 2045. There are several agitations in each State for water. As such, the subject of Water Resources was kept under State list in order to inculcate interest and manage the water resources and to use it for cultivation.
Therefore, there is dire necessity to think and initiate debates and discussions on water conservation and include water as a subject in Concurrent or Union list by bringing suitable amendments in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.