The government has prepared a Draft National Water Policy 2012 emphasising on the need for a national water framework law. Giving this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday Minister of State of Water Resources & Minority Affairs Vincent H. Pala said the policy recommends that sources of water and water bodies should not be allowed to get polluted.

For periodic inspection, a system of third party inspection should be evolved and heavy penalty should be imposed on polluters. The money recovered as penalty may be put in a fund for facilitating water treatment. The draft policy proposes reversal of heavy under-pricing of electricity, which leads to wasteful use of both electricity and water.

The Minister said the policy also recommends that the water related services should be transferred to community or private sector with appropriate ‘Public-Private-Partnership model.