NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Observing that the current legal framework pertaining to water is non-uniform and inadequate, President Pranab Mukherjee today batted for an overarching legal framework to deal with the existing complex situation.
“A broad over-arching national legal framework of general principles on water could pave the way for essential legislation on water governance in the country,” he said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Second India Water Forum organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with support of Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Water and Sanitation Program of the World Bank.
The President said concerted effort is also required to make the water sector policies and regulations clear, coordinated and comprehensive.
“Only then can India hope to mitigate the impact of the looming water crisis,” Mukherjee said.
Noting that the country’s agriculture is a big demand centre for water, he said, water management in this sector is therefore crucial for overall sustainability of the country’s water resource.
“The 3 R strategy of reduce, recycle and reuse has to find application in our farmlands,” the President said.
He said, “Our irrigation system has to encourage judicious use of water and efforts at recycling and reuse of wastewater have to be doubled”.
Rain water harvesting has to be popularized by dovetailing existing rural development schemes like MNREGA, the President said.
“Our initiatives at integrated watershed development have to aim at increasing the soil moisture, reducing the sediment yield and improving water productivity,” he said.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Union Minister of Water Resources, Harish Rawat, Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor and Director General of TERI, R K Pachauri.
Mukherjee said the reach of the poor to safe drinking water has to be enhanced by developing mid-market technologies that can deliver affordable water treatment devices.
The president said the provision of safe drinking water has become a serious development initiative around the globe.
“There is a significant portion of humanity which remains denied of access to this basic necessity. The reach of the poor to safe drinking water has to be enhanced by developing mid-market technologies that can deliver affordable water treatment devices,” he said.
The President said micro finance institutions have to be engaged to acquire devices and encourage shared access to safe drinking water.
He said usable water is a scarce commodity and the pricing mechanism has to act as an incentive for saving and disincentive for wastage.
“The role of water users associations has to be strengthened by giving them adequate powers for collection of water charges and management of the water distribution system,” he said.
The President also spoke about threat of climate change on water resources.
“By altering river flows, decreasing groundwater recharge, intensifying floods and droughts, and allowing salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers, climate change can severely affect water resources. This challenge has to be met by efficient water management,” he said. (PTI)
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