Manmohan Singh wants region specific strategy to conserve water

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed need for a community-based and region-specific strategy for conservation of water.

New Delhi, Sept 11 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed need for a community-based and region-specific strategy for conservation of water.

Addressing the National Congress on Ground Water 2007, Singh said any strategy for water conservation, management and utilisation needs to be planned and implemented by local bodies.

He called upon panchayats and municipalities to come forward with a water conservation strategy.

Lauding Chennai city's neighbourhood based strategy, Singh said: "Every village, every locality, every neighbourhood, every town should have a rain water harvesting scheme. Panchayats must be actively engaged in ground water recharge and the renovation and maintenance of water bodies."

Referring to the challenges posed by floods and drought, Singh said while the challenge of floods was increasingly linked to poor soil conservation, lack of afforestation and inadequate infrastructure for water conservation, the problem of drought was a manifestation of inadequate investment in repair, renovation and maintenance of water bodies, recharge and rainwater harvesting.

"A scheme for Dug Well Recharge in hard rock regions of the country covering seven States is under process," he added.

He urged the Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge of Ground Water to create widespread national awareness and a genuine national consensus on an equitable, efficient and environmentally sustainable water policy for the vast country.

Noting that water is both a public good and an economic good, Singh said "Modern governments must base their policies pertaining to water taking into account both these criterion."

He said that the government could not continue to subsidise the economic and commercial use of water.

Providing free power to farmers for instance has encouraged excessive use of pump sets and excessive drawing of ground water, he said.

"If there is economic pricing of power, there would be some incentive for conserving ground water. Water conservation and management can be better served through appropriate incentives and penalties," Singh said.

Singh also complimented the Water Resources Ministry for instituting the 'Bhoomijal Samvardhhan Puraskar' and the 'National Water Award' aimed at encouraging people's participation in ground water conservation.

ANI