CGWB HAVE A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN ALLEVIATING DRINKING WATER DISTRESS
AND PROTECTING AND AUGUMENTING PRECIOUS GROUND WATER RESOURCES
IN THE COUNTRY
SETHI INAUGURATES THE NEW OFFICE COMPLEX
OF CGWB HEADQUARTERS BHUJAL BHAVAN AT FARIDABAD
Union Minister for
Water Resources, Shri Arjun Charan Sethi addressing the gathering
on the occasion of inauguration of ‘Bhujal Bhavan’, the headquarters
of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under his Ministry at Faridabad
today, expressed outmost happiness as the building complex of
the Bhujal Bhavan has been completed within a record time of two
years. Shri Sethi had the privilege of laying the foundation stone
of the said Complex which houses State-of-art Laboratory, Exhibition
Hall, National Groundwater Data Centre, modern demonstration facilities
for Rainwater Harvesting besides the Administrative Blocks constructed
at a cost of over Rs. 2.5 crores for the benefit of the planners,
scientists and actual water users of the country. It has got a
latest technology inputs and working atmosphere for the staff
and conducive for scientific research. The Minister expected that
the CGWB would play a vital role in alleviating drinking water
distress in the country apart from protecting and augmenting the
precious groundwater resources as it is fast depleting in urban,
rural and industrial areas due to over exploitation.
He further deliberated
on the uneven distribution of rainfall and rapid growth of population
which led to scarcity of this vital resource in many part of the
country. It is, therefore, the National Water Policy recognises
water as prime natural resource and requires preservation. Planning
and development of this resource have to be governed in keeping
with the principle of the NWP for which the Ministry has accorded
top priority to augment the sources of water for drinking, irrigation
and other purposes. He also inaugurated the artificial recharge
structure through which entire rainwater will be harvested and
recharged to the ground in the said Building Complex. He moved
around the Exhibition put up on the occasion in the Building Complex.
The Secretary, Ministry
of Water Resources, Shri V. K. Duggal while addressing the audience
reiterated that the Ministry of Water Resources is committed for
proper development and management of the groundwater resource
in the country. As it has 16% of the World’s population but only
with 2.5% of total land area and 4% of World water resource. Therefore,
water resources management is more challenging in India as the
source is not infinite and it is with this view in mind India
alongwith UN Member countries is observing 2003 as the Freshwater
Year to save, preserve and prevent deterioration of groundwater
quality.
Shri J.S. Burjia,
Chairman, CGWB in his introductory remarks informed that CGWB
is a National apex organisation dealing with the ground water
exploration, assessment, development and management in scientific
manner. The Board has 18 Regional offices, 17 Divisional Offices
and 10 State Unit Offices scattered all over the country.
Soon after the Inaugural
function, the Minister and the top officials of the Ministry met
the Press informally and clarified many doubts raised regarding
Interlinking of Rivers for bringing flood waters from surplus
area to the deficit area for which the Task Force is already on
the job. Though the linking of rivers is a very gigantic task
still then Shri Sethi expressed that the work has progressed in
the right direction. The Secretary (MOWR) informed the Press and
the public that the Regional Office building of CGWB at Chandigarh
has been completed and is shortly going to operate. The Chairman,
Central Water Commission suggested to strike a balance between
availability of surface and ground water to perpetuate the eco-system
in nature. Shri S. S. Chauhan, Member, CGWB informed the distinguished
Press that district-wise Haryana State map has been compiled by
the CGWB which would meet the aspiration of the people of the
State.
