Jaipur, March 19 (NationPress) The Rajasthan government has recently reversed its stance on the Bill intended to regulate groundwater in the state.

The Groundwater Management Authority Bill has been referred back to the Select Committee of the Assembly.

During the Assembly debate on Wednesday, the State Water Supply Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary suggested that the Bill be sent to the Select Committee, a motion that was approved. This isn't the first instance the Bill has undergone scrutiny.

Initially, it was directed to the Select Committee in August of last year.

In February, the deadline for the committee's report submission was extended.

Following the recent report submission, the state government intended to reintroduce the Bill.

However, members of the Opposition expressed concerns regarding various provisions.

A significant point of disagreement was the mandatory registration of all tubewells and the requirement for machines used to drill them.

Opposition members contended that the state government does not have the necessary resources to enforce such regulations.

They pointed out that even the Water Supply department has yet to install meters on its connections.

Congress MLAs Hakeem Ali, Rafiq Khan, and Harimohan Sharma condemned the Bill, asserting, "The government is trying to control access to water, which has always been freely available. This initiative will create unnecessary barriers and increase bureaucratic oversight."

With the Bill now back in the Select Committee, additional discussions and adjustments are anticipated before any conclusive decision is reached.

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Tika Ram Jully, has criticized the Rajasthan Groundwater Conservation and Management Authority Bill in the Assembly, questioning the state government's motives behind the legislation.

LoP Jully emphasized that Rajasthan experiences sufficient rainfall, yet the state struggles with water storage, intensifying the crisis.

He pointed out that pollution is contaminating water sources while the depth of surface water continues to decline, worsening the situation.

Labeling the Bill a "betrayal of public interest", Jully advocated for public consultation prior to implementation.

"Such legislation existed previously, and there was already a prohibition on drilling. Now, new stipulations have been added, further limiting water access."

In the context of machining, boring refers to the process of enlarging a pre-drilled hole using a single-point cutting tool (or a boring head containing multiple such tools), such as in boring a gun barrel or an engine cylinder.

Jully questioned the state government's plan to prohibit hand pumps, which serve as a primary water source for many households.

"People depend on hand pumps for their daily needs. If you ban them, what alternatives will the common citizen have? This is merely dictatorship!"

He remarked that the prior Congress-led state government had provided exemptions for drilling, ensuring better access to water.

The LoP criticized the current Bill's restrictions, demanding clarity on how the public would manage under the new regulations.

"If this Bill bans drilling, what will the public do?"

Jully urged the state government to reconsider the Bill and incorporate feedback from the populace before enforcing restrictive water management policies.

A separate Bill has also been introduced in the Assembly to prevent suicides among coaching students in the state and to regulate coaching centers.

This Bill is expected to be passed following a debate in the current Assembly session.

Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Prem Chand Bairwa introduced the Rajasthan Coaching Institute Controlled and Regulation Bill, 2025, in the House.