November 17, 2001
‘38’CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSSES LONG TERM VISION FOR EFFICIENT USE OF COUNTRY’S WATER RESOURCES
The long term vision of the Water Resources Ministry aims at optimum sustainable development, maintenance of quality and efficient use of country’s water resources to meet the growing demands in the 21st century. India will have to fulfil the food and fiber requirement of a projected population of 1200 million by 2015 and 1600 million by 2050, said Shri Arjun Charan Sethi, the Minister of Water Resources today, while addressing the members of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. He said that the country shall have to make available safe drinking water for all, safeguard existing water sources from pollution and over exploitation, maximise hydropower generation and navigation, maintain ecological balance and take care of the people against water related natural disasters like flood and drought.
Shri Sethi said that his ministry has identified key action points to achieve these ends with active involvement of all stakeholders. This would accelerate the equitable economic development of the country, he said. The Minister stressed on integrated management and development, optimal use of developed resources, preserving them and augmenting the transfer of water resources from surplus regions to water deficit areas. He said that this needs a mass awareness campaign and application of modern technology and research. He called for interventions at various levels like systematic policy focus, bridging the knowledge gap to enable educated decision making, administrative initiatives, enacting suitable legal instruments and facilitate sufficient flow of funds for water resources development. He urged the concerned ministries/departments at the centre, the state governments and all stakeholders to come forward with necessary political will and commitment to achieve the objectives of the vision of water sector for 21st Century.
The members of the Committee were of the view that the entire subject of water resources should be brought under one umbrella and a comprehensive approach should be made to address the provisions of the vision expeditiously. Shri Abul Hasnat Khan, M.P from West Bengal appreciated the efforts of the Ministry in checking Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal. The Minister of State for Water Resources Smt. Vijaya Chakravarty asked the officials of the Ministry to keep in view the continuos population growth, trends in migration pattern and problems of emerging mega cities.
Following members of the Parliament were present:
Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria and Shri Abul Hasnat Khan.