Two Supreme Court Judges emphasised the significance of revival of traditional sources of water as a step for water conservation and equilibrium in natural resources at a seminar on water harvesting and conservation in Jodhpur on Sunday.
Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice G. S. Singhvi said a master plan for the water sector was a “viable option” for saving the surface water that flows into the sea and conserving the ground water, the level of which was continuously declining.
The Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority organised the one-day seminar at Suchana Kendra in Jodhpur to generate awareness about environmental laws governing the exploitation of natural resources.
Mr. Justice Bhandari said while 93 per cent of the surface water available in the country flows into the Bay of Bengal, 13 per cent of the drinking water goes waste due to leakages and other reasons. He said the traditional methods of water conservation should be restored for the benefit of society at large.
Mr. Justice Singhvi said tree plantation would prove to be a significant method for water conservation and affirmed that it would maintain the natural balance and lead to better rains in the water-deficit areas.
Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla said the decline in the ground water level was a cause for concern and added that concerted steps were needed to deal with the crisis situation.
A booklet published by the Legal Services Authority on water conservation was also released on the occasion.
