The present draft seeks to provide a “right to water” based on an allowance of 25 litres per person per day, about five litres more than the WHO recommendation. The framework provides a minimum requirement of water for free, but says beyond that it should be increasingly priced on economic principles to avoid waste and ensure supplies. The law envisages a larger role for markets and places a crucial role for River Basin Development. A national law on water is necessary because of a general perception of an imminent crisis, and the dire need to conserve this scarce and precious resource; the severe and intractable inter-use and interstate conflicts; the pollution of rivers and other water sources, turning rivers into sewers and contaminating aquifers; the international dimensions of some of India’s rivers; and concerns about the impact of climate change on water.

There must indeed be a strong emphasis on deeming access to safe water as a human right. A draft agreement must be put in place so that an exhaustive framework is standardised. Setting up a state-wise independent regulator for the sector is needed to carry out projects transparently. Political opposition must be based on issues rather than turning into an anti-privatisation drive.