Satnam Singh Sandhu Proposes Bill for River Rights
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Synopsis
Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu has introduced the Recognition of Legal Person Status of Rivers Bill, 2024, aimed at granting rivers rights akin to humans. The bill seeks to protect over 400 rivers in India and establish a committee to oversee their conservation and management.
Key Takeaways
- Bill aims to grant rivers legal personhood.
- Proposes protection for rivers longer than 40 km.
- Establishes a Rivers Protection Committee for management.
- Imposes strict penalties for river harm.
- Draws examples from global legal personhood for rivers.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (NationPress) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Satnam Singh Sandhu has put forth a private member bill titled Recognition of Legal Person Status of Rivers Bill, 2024 during the current Budget session of Parliament.
This legislation aims to bestow the status of "legal persons" upon rivers, granting them rights akin to those of individuals as per Article 21 of the Constitution.
Underlining the critical need for river conservation, Sandhu pointed out that the bill's objective is to safeguard India's extensive network of more than 400 rivers, ensuring their right to persist, thrive, and receive protection from harm.
The proposed bill advocates for legal safeguards for rivers extending over 40 km in length and suggests the creation of a Rivers Protection Committee tasked with overseeing the sustainable management, conservation, and welfare of rivers nationwide.
As per the bill's provisions, the Union Government will be required to establish this committee within six months following the notification of the Act. The Rivers Protection Committee will maintain a Register of Rivers to monitor and evaluate their health.
This committee will comprise 13 members, including the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT); Secretaries from the Ministries of Jal Shakti, Environment, Forests & Climate Change, and Ports, Shipping & Waterways; alongside one representative each from the President and the Prime Minister of India.
Discussing the bill, Sandhu remarked, “The Recognition of Legal Person Status of Rivers Bill, 2024, represents a vital progression towards tackling the enduring challenges of river pollution and degradation. Our rivers have been overlooked for far too long. This bill corresponds with India’s profound cultural respect for rivers, which have historically been regarded as sacred and essential to our identity, heritage, and survival.”
He elaborated that conferring personhood to rivers would bolster conservation initiatives and foster sustainable water management. Once enacted, the Rivers Protection Committee will possess the authority to regulate activities related to rivers, monitor river health, and impose penalties for infractions.
The bill stipulates severe penalties for offenders harming rivers, including fines of up to Rs 150 crore and imprisonment for a term of up to one year.
Financially, the bill allocates Rs 300 crore for annual recurring expenses and Rs 50 crore for non-recurring costs associated with establishing and managing the Rivers Protection Committee and Register of Rivers, with funding sourced from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The bill references global precedents where rivers have been granted legal personhood, noting that New Zealand recognized the Whanganui River as a legal entity in 2017, facilitating its protection against pollution.
In 2017, India's Uttarakhand High Court also conferred the status of living entities upon the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, endowing them with rights similar to those of human beings.
Moreover, the bill advocates for a structured collaborative framework to regulate activities on river surfaces, enhance management practices, evaluate current regulatory measures, and tackle public health and safety concerns.
