Minister for Agriculture Kamalakannan on Thursday said that there has been a collective failure to own responsibility to protect water resources. “It is time for everyone to reorient our thinking,” he said.
He was addressing the audience during an interactive session on the occasion of World Water Day observed at Raj Nivas in Puducherry on Thursday.
Minister for Public Works A.Namassivayam said that the UT government was releasing 135 litres and 70 litres of water per person in urban and rural areas respectively. He said the policy decision would be taken to identify locations on the shore for setting up desalination plant and sewage treatment plants would be made operational.
During the session, participants suggested that policy frameworks be evolved to permit local farming community to undertake desilting of tanks and ponds, participation of the local community be encouraged, scientific data obtained for groundwater recharge and to integrate water policy with land use and mobility trends.
Stating that a monthly review meeting will be held to implement these suggestions, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar said a system for collective working would be created under the guidance of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy and ministers. The Development Commissioner said that all suggestions have been factored in and a mission mode approach adopted to implement them.
Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi said that those present at the session will work together to make Puducherry ‘water rich.’
Minister for Environment T.Thiagarajan said that the ban of plastics will be enforced in toto and Puducherry will soon be plastic free. He said that a movement has to be launched in each village to take the message on the importance of conservation and preservation of water to each citizen.
