Punjab will set up an appropriate regulatory authority to control, manage and regulate water resources for its judicious and equitable utilisation. The state government will also formulate a new comprehensive and unified legislation on the management and administration of canals and drains in the state. These proposals are part of the State Water Policy-2008, the draft of which was approved today by the State Water Resources Committee, headed by chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh. The policy also indicates tough measures against those involved in polluting various water bodies and to introduce systemic irrigation reforms. The most significant part of the policy is to link agriculture and industrial production with per unit of water. There is a proposal for water charges for the utiliation of water for various purposes in such a manner that they cover at least the operation and maintenance costs of providing the service to users. While protecting riparian rights of the state, greater emphasis will be given on reliable and scientific assessment of demand and supply of surface water for the basin states. The draft would now be presented to the State Water Council headed by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for its nod. Dwelling on various issues related to water and its utilisation for irrigation, industry, drinking etc, the water policy states that against the estimated demand of 50 million acre feet (maf), Punjab gets only 17.37 maf water out of the total surface water of 34.34 maf of three rivers. Owing to the non-availability of surface water, the continuous increase in demand of water due to the growth of population, urbanisation, industrialisation, sowing of water-guzzling crops, high cropping intensity has resulted in over-exploitation of groundwater resources in 103 blocks out of 137 in the state. In South-West Punjab, groundwater is saline and is not fit for drinking. The area is facing rising water table and acute water logging. Untreated sewage and industrial effluents have reduced the availability of fresh water resources and has adversely affected the health of the people. The government will promote the reuse of water by recycling the treated industrial effluents and sewage waste for irrigation, industry and other permissible uses. The water allocation priorities enlisted in the policy are drinking water, ecology, irrigation, hydro-power, thermal power, agro and other industries. Encouraging the scientific water management, farm practices and sprinkler and drip irrigation system is part of the policy. Evolving of the appropriate administrative and legal measures to avoid overexploitation of groundwater is also part of the policy. Besides preparing master plan for flood control, there will also be modification in the reservoir regulation policy.