core sector communique

Water Resources Minister stresses on broader national water policy and effective water conservation measures,Launches CII-Triveni water conservation Institute

The Union Water Resources Minister Shri P K Bansal has said that The revised national water policy will take on board crucial issues such as water demand management, equitable distribution, and allocating priority to water for life-support and ecology. Launching CII-Triveni Water Institute in Delhi today Mr Bansal said the revised policy will address the new national water scenario and new dimensions in water management.

He emphasised that one of the greatest challenges facing human development is the conservation and equitable distribution of our limited fresh water resources. Water crises are the challenges to the global environment communities, as water issues have been included under the agenda 21 of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The Minister observed that there are serious concerns on the availability of fresh water in India as it has 16% of the world’s population and only 2.45% of the world’s land resources and 4% of the world’s fresh water resources.

Mr Bansal appealed to the people for efficient water management pondering over new approaches to financing and resource management in the water sector.

He said the Government of India has taken up various initiatives in promoting the water conservation.The Minister described a number of schemes aimed at tackling different aspects of the water problem including promoting surface water irrigation, schemes for ground water conservation and recharge, rural drinking water and urban drinking water supply are being implemented. The shemes areAccelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP),Bharat Nirman- Irrigation SectorNational Project for Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies,Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM),Command Area Development &Water Management (CADWM) ,Artificial Recharge to Ground Water through Dug Wells. The CII-Triveni water institute is aimed at transforming water conservation and management practices involving all stakeholders. Water resources Secretary Shri Dhruv Vijay Singh and CII Director General Mr Chandrajit Banerjee also spoke on the occasion.