PETALING JAYA, April 19 — The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will present a long-term national water framework to the Cabinet next month in light of the drought affecting the country.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, said yesterday such a policy was vital as demand for water from all sectors increased with dwindling resources.

“The increasing demand has to be managed. I am not just referring to domestic water use but to high demand from the industrial and agricultural sectors as well,” he said.

“The framework we will be presenting Cabinet will be updated as more solutions become available.”

The framework will include recommendations by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and Water Resources Management and Hydrology divisions.

He said the water shortage in four northern states was a wake-up call to the National Water Services Commission to plan a water policy for the future.

Wan Junaidi said the commission needed to be on top of the situation as far as water was concerned.

“Water is a state-level issue and measures such as gazetting water catchment areas and a formal state level water authority also need to be formed,” he said.

“Somebody must be responsible at the state level to deal with the federal authorities on the issue before water shortage becomes critical,” he said.