The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on January 24, 2026, introduced L.A. Bill No. 6 of 2026 to provide a comprehensive statutory framework for the regulation, management, and augmentation of water resources in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Bill seeks to ensure equity, efficiency, sustainability, and participatory governance in the use and conservation of surface water and groundwater resources.
The proposed legislation lays down foundational principles for water resources management, recognising water as a finite and vulnerable common pool resource with economic, social, and ecological value. It prioritises water use in the order of water for life, food security, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem needs, while embedding preventive and precautionary principles to address environmental degradation, climate change impacts, and water security challenges.
The Bill further establishes an institutional framework through the creation of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management Authority, empowering it to formulate water policy, prepare management plans, regulate abstraction and use, fix tariffs for commercial users, and oversee implementing authorities. The legislation aims to promote sustainable access to water, prevent pollution, conserve ecosystems, and ensure non-discriminatory access to water resources across the State.
[Notification No. L.A. Bill No. 6 of 2026]
