Opposing the establishment of a water regulatory authority, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that any revision in the national water policy should be based on the existing constitutional provisions and universally accepted riparian principles.

Participating in the deliberations at the 6th meeting of the National Water Resources Council chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, Badal said water was a State subject under the Constitution and States had exclusive power of legislation on it.

Expressing strong reservations over the establishment of a water tariff system and a water regulatory authority under the draft National Water Policy 2012, Badal opposed the move, saying these should be left to the States for taking appropriate decision.

He said Punjab being an agrarian State was opposed to the concept of integrated planning and management of river basins and setting up of basin authorities by legislation.

“Without prejudice to our consistent stand on riparian rights, principles of equitable distribution of water should be well-defined,” he said, adding that existing usage and future needs of water of a State be protected as otherwise it would directly affect the growth of the State.

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