The Hindu : Call for strict water conservation measures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 14, 2003

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Call for strict water conservation measures

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI FEB. 13. The Planning Commission Member, Sompal, today said the Delhi Government had become a role model for negative governance.

Delivering the keynote address at the 35th annual convention of the Indian Water Works here, Mr. Sompal said electricity transmission loss in Delhi was 53 per cent against the national average of 40 per cent and in water it was 40 per cent. "In such a scenario, what else could be said about the Delhi Government, which otherwise should have been a role model of governance in the country'' he said.

Calling for strict water conservation measures, he said use of drinking water for other purposes like car wash should be prohibited. According to him, not only Delhi but all the cities were indulging in large-scale wastage of water.

``When you flush once in the toilet, 15 litres of water goes down the drain. This is the so-called civilised society! The per capita consumption of water in rural areas is 17 litres per day as against 287 litres per day in five metropolitan cities,'' Mr. Sompal said.

Observing that water has been at the root of many inter-State and international disputes, he stressed on its intelligent use. "By switching over to organic farming, we can reduce the demand of water by 50 per cent,'' he said

Arguing the case of inter-connectivity of rivers, the Delhi Urban Development Minister, A.K. Walia, said this was essential for more equitable distribution of water in the country.

During the day-long deliberations, water experts called for strict enforcement of ground water control and regulation by the Central Ground Water Authority. They stressed the need to promote development of appropriate technology and infrastructure for fresh and waste water management.

During the three-day convention here, water experts are expected to discuss a large number of issues like contamination of drinking water, defluoridation of water through absorption process using low cost materials, absorption of arsenic on saw dust and efficacy of integrated approach for ground water management in areas with water scarcity such as western Rajasthan.

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