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| Home / India News Archives / 2003 / March / Water for future discussed threadbare at the World Water Day function |
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Water for future discussed threadbare at the World Water Day function
New Delhi: March 21, 2003 22nd March is observed annually as World Water Day. The observance of these days aims at promoting awareness of the extent to which water resource development contributes to economic productivity and social well-being. Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty, Minister of State for Water Resources in her address as Chief Guest said here today that this year the observance of the Day assumes added significance since the UN is observing 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. Elaborating on the theme, 'Water for Future' she said that the UN and its various agencies have been at the forefront of innovative approaches in aiding the government in various sectors of development, including the Water Resources sector of India. As water is needed for basic health and sanitation, generation of hydropower, inland navigation maintaining the ecology and production of industrial goods, its protection, preservation and conservation is paramount. It has been assessed that the country would need 1093 BCM and 1447 BCM of water by the year 2025 and 2050 respectively. These demand projections are based on the premise that efficiency will be introduced in the water use by that time. Even in such a situation the available 1122 BCM of utilisable water resources will be just sufficient to match the requirements. The major water use in the country has been in irrigation sector. The irrigation potential of the country through major, medium and minor irrigation projects has been assessed at about 140 million hectares. Out of this, irrigation potential of 95.4 mha has been created up till now. From the point of view of utilisation, out of the total utilizable water of 1122 BCM which includes 690 BCM of surface water and 432 BCM of ground water, about 605 BCM of water has been utilised. For optimal utilisation of available water, there is need to formulate projects within the framework of overall basin/sub-basin plan. River Basin Organisations (RBOs) need to be established for the integrated, optimum and holistic development and management of water resources with active involvement of the community. Irrigation for food production being the main use of freshwater (ground and surface) in India; an Inter-basin linkage of River basins to simultaneously manage floods and droughts as part of a national water grid is the best option for developing an efficient water management system. A direct linkage exists between a future of water scarcity and population boom. The rapid, annual growth rate of our population in our cities and villages is increasingly putting pressure on both the quality and quantity of available drinking water resources. To ensure Water Security for the future, it is imperative to take stock of the past development efforts, the achievements, the shortcomings and draw suitable guiding principles which along with the projected demands can help draw a road map to achieve the desired objectives. She clarified that at no point of time, Government has ever thought of privatising any river in the country especially the Ganges. Director, UN Information Centre gave the introductory remarks of the observance. Shri P. K. Tripathi, CEO, Delhi Jal Board, Dr. J. S. Samra, DDG (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, Dr. Sunita Narain , Director , Centre for Science and Environment and Shri Romesh Chandra, Forum of Indian NGOs for Cooperation with UN deliberated on the subject. This function was jointly organised by the UN Information Centre and FINCUN to commemorate World Water Day. Press Release by: PIB/CRM/SK. |
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