CM stresses on conservation

With the growing population in Puducherry, the demand for water is increasing. By 2030, the demand is expected to increase by 50 per cent.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Tuesday stressed on the importance of conserving groundwater in Puducherry. “We are completely dependent on groundwater. However, the level of groundwater would deplete the more we extract. This is dangerous to the environment and to our health. Hence it is important to conserve water resources in Puducherry,” he said.

Inaugurating the Water Festival 2016 in Puducherry on Tuesday, he said that clean water is essential for our survival. “The industries are polluting our groundwater. The best example is Mettupalayam, where industries have completely polluted groundwater. This is the reason why I have not permitted supply of water to any chemical industries,” he said.

MLA K. Lakshmi Narayanan said that the big challenge for the whole of Puducherry would be how it is going to cater to the growing needs of people. Another threat to clean water is the solid waste management and sewage due to increase in population. “There were many lakes in Puducherry but slowly it is getting extinct. How are we going to preserve these water bodies? Till we value the water resource and consider it precious, the problems will continue. It is only in Puducherry that each person is supplied with 200 to 300 litres of drinking water. Hence, it is time we start conserving this valuable resource,” he said.

Suresh C. Tyagi, deputy inspector general, Commander Coast Guard (Puducherry), emphasised on conservation of marine life.

He said that it was important to know what type of fishing net should be used so that there was no threat to endangered species.

Counsel General of France in Puducherry Philippe Janvier-Kamiyama called for development and preservation of eco system.