Aurangabad: The Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) that was revamped recently by virtue of a special ordinance issued by the government will get three more expert members.The necessary process for appointing an expert each from the field of law, economy and groundwater management was rolled out recently.While good rainy season last year across the state has taken the attention away from the role of MWRRA, experts advise is necessary to avoid regional disputes in case of any water scarcity in future.In a latest public advertisement, nominations have been invited from experts from three identified categories before July 18. The state government last year had introduced Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) (Amendment) Act 2016 and the desired revamp of the water regulator is being carried out in the framework of amended legislation.As per MWRRA (Amendment) Act 2016, the water regulator will be a five-member body, including a chairman and four experts.After vacuum at top for long time, the MWRRA recently got a full-time chairman, retired senior bureaucrat K P Bakshi, who assumed charge on May 16. One of the expert members from the field of Water Resources Engineering V M Kulkarni was also appointed on the same day."As per provisions of the amended Act, the state government has constituted a selection committee led by chief secretary and principal of Water Resources Department (WRD) as its member secretary for selection of three experts. The term of each member will be three-years in general," concerned senior official said.The amended Act also provides for the appointment of five special invitees, one from each river Basin Agency area, to assist the water regulator in taking policy decisions. City-based entrepreneur Ram Bhogle has been appointed as a special invitee for Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation, while AKD Jadhav on Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation.The names of special invitees for Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation, Vidharbha Irrigation Development Corporation and Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation are yet to be announced.Since its establishment 11 years back, the MWRRA has been allegedly reduced to a toothless body working under the influence of the State Water Resources Department (WRD) till the recent overhaul. "Marathwada has suffered a lot due to on-paper existence of the water regulator. The region was always denied from equitable water distribution. The ongoing revamp seems promising and hopes are high that it would deliver in case the drought-prone region struggles for water," water activist Abhijit Dhanorkar said.

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