President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that water conservation was everybody’s collective responsibility. And called upon the citizens to participate in building a water-secure India.
While addressing the 5th National Water Awards ceremony in New Delhi, President Murmu said, “Conserving water is a collective responsibility. Building a water-secure India requires all of us to participate.”
She went on to say that all great civilizations in the world have taken birth and grown on the banks of rivers. Bringing forth a very close connection between water and human life. Yet at the same time, she suggested how little memories people have about water.
President Murmu brought up the issue of freshwater contamination: “Freshwater resources are scarce, yet we seldom think over their conservation and management. Human activities are polluting these resources, and they are fast depleting.”
She further pointed out that the per capita water availability in India was declining due to the growing population. A report by the Central Water Commission, Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs, 2019. Estimated that the average annual per capita water availability would decline from 1,486 cubic meters in 2021 to 1,367 cubic meters by 2031. Less than 1,700 cubic meters per capita has been referred to as a “water-stressed” condition, and below 1,000 cubic meters reflects “water scarcity.”
The government has initiated a number of programs addressing these challenges. For instance, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims at tap water connectivity for every household in rural areas by 2024. Similarly, another initiative is AMRUT 2.0-Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. Launched in 2021, for universal water supply in every urban area.
The government launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna in 2015. Focusing on improving irrigation facilities to use every drop of water effectively for agriculture. The program has sanctioned 99 irrigation projects, and it will continue until 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 93,068.56 crore.
This paved the way for the government to establish the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency to ensure efficient water use in all sectors. Further, the campaign “Sahi Fasal” encourages farmers in water-scarce areas to adopt less water-intensive crops.
In 2022, Mission Amrit Sarovar was introduced for the rejuvenation of 75 water bodies in each district with the aim of conserving water for years to come.
These initiatives show the determination of the government toward efficient management of water resources in India.
ANI
