New Delhi, January 2, 2015: Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti has called upon agencies like Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) to come forward and actively associate itself with the gigantic task of river development in the country. Speaking at the CBIP day function here last night, the Minister said though government will play its own role, all sections of the society through their active participation should ensure that our rivers are not polluted. Bharti said that proper dissemination of knowledge required in this regard should be imparted from school level itself.
Referring to the efforts of her Ministry the Minister said that a strategy has to be evolved for better Water Resources Development and Management through wider consultations among various stakeholders. Bharti said a very important agenda of Water Resources Ministry pertains to Ganga Rejuvenation. She said “We are chalking out programmes to ensure that only treated waste water is released into Ganga so that we are able to maintain its sanctity. With its success the programme will serve as a model to demonstrate the methodology for improving the water quality of other polluted rivers”.
Expressing concern over the pollution levels of river water in the country she said it has become very serious and menacing for human beings and animals as well as for fish and aqua culture existence. Bharti said “As a result of indiscriminate and indiscrete developmental activities, the clear fresh water, that were our national heritage and precious resources, have become dumping grounds for municipal and industrial wastes”. The Minister said that even though, the Central Government and State Governments have constituted Pollution Control Boards to address the issues, the end results that have been achieved on ground are not encouraging. If the process is allowed to continue like this, a day will definitely come when we will not be able to find any clear water anywhere in the country, the Minister added.
Addressing the gathering the Union Minister of State for Water Resources Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat said that increasing stress on freshwater resources brought by population growth and ever-changing demand of water use, as well as for healthy eco-system, draws attention to the challenges ahead for planning and management of scarce water resources. He said that as a result of population growth, per capita water availability may decline from stressful situation to scarcity level by the year 2050. Prof. Jat said “If we ignore the scarcity now, it will adversely affect our country’s future prospects and well-being. We should judiciously conserve our precious water resources and plan for its optimum utilization”. Referring to inter-linking of rivers the Minister said it will help in overcoming the various problems and shall also help in bringing food security, better livelihoods and more employment generation.
The Minister presented CBIP annual awards to 43 individuals and organizations to recognize the outstanding contribution of the Engineers/Scientists/Administrators, in the field of Water Resources, Power and Renewable Energy sectors.
Central Board of Irrigation & Power (CBIP) is a pioneer organization involved in dissemination of technical knowledge in Water Resources, Power and Renewable Energy Sectors for the past 88 years by way of bringing out technical publications, organizing conferences/ workshops/seminars and imparting training to the professionals & other stakeholders.
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