INDIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD WORLD WATER FORUM TO BE HELD
IN JAPAN
An Indian Delegation
led by Shri Arjun Charan Sethi, Union Minister of Water Resources
will participate in the 3rd World Water Forum (WWF)
to be held in Japan from 16th to 23rd of
this month.
The World Water
Forum Conference is organised by World Water Council once in three
years. The previous Forum was held at the Hague, Netherlands in
2000. The present WWF is being organised in collaboration with
the Government of Japan.
On the occasion
of WWF, a Ministerial Conference is organised towards solving
water issues and to add a political perspective to efforts of
the forum participants. The Ministerial Conference will review
concrete actions taken by governments that have the primary responsibility
for water resources management. Recognizing the need for maintaining
the momentum raised by the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
the Ministerial Conference will provide a platform for following
up and expanding initiatives and co-operation on water.
The discussion
in Ministerial Conference will include topics on safe drinking
water and sanitation, water for food and rural development, disaster
mitigation and risk management and water resources management
and benefit sharing.
Shri Sethi will
also chair one of the sub-group sessions on 22nd on
"Water Resources Management and Benefit Sharing".
The Third World
Water Forum assumes greater significance during the current year
i.e. 2003 which has already been declared as "International
Year of the Freshwater" by the United Nations. Government
of India have also declared the year 2003 as "Freshwater
Year" to create mass awareness regarding the importance of
conserving and management of freshwater in the country. The progress
made by the country in water resources sector and vital interest
regarding development of water resources in a sustainable manner
along with efficient management for meeting growing demands of
the country’s population and poverty alleviation will be highlighted
in the Conference.
A ministerial declaration
will be issued at the conclusion of the WWF which will contain
future directions towards water management and development.
