Water: reduce usage, recycle and re-use

The Government has started adopting latest technologies in water management with focus on supply side management of water conservation instead of just demand side management.

Stating this, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat noted that the rural areas are not getting covered with 3D aquifer mapping to ensure the exact water level in the area.

“We have to ensure as to how we can reduce the water usage, recycle it and re-use it,” added Shekhawat at the ‘5th edition of India Industry Water Conclave and ‘7th edition of FICCI Water Awards’, organised by FICCI on 24 Jan 2020.

The National Groundwater Management Improvement Scheme, (worth Rs.6,000 crores), will be supported with financial assistance from World Bank, Rs.3,000 crores and remaining by the government through budgetary support.

The government has recently launched ‘Atal Bhujal Yojna’ which is a groundwater management scheme. It is based on the participation by all concerned stakeholders.

“First time we have initiated a pilot scheme for demand side management which will cover 400 districts in 7 states,” he added.

Shekhawat said that state participation is key in solving the issue of water management and emphasised on the need of adopting best practices which states have already implemented in water conservation.

“There is a need to expand the time-tested proven technologies and government is working in that direction,” he said.

Highlighting the role of corporate sector in water management, Shekhawat said that government alone cannot solve the issue, hence all stakeholders including corporate sector should come forward.

“I urge the industry to come forward and invest in hydrological system and can play an active role in promoting wastewater use,” he added.

Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, has emphasized on ‘People’s Participation’ and highlighted the government’s focus on the subsidiarity principle and the need for state action.

He added that the government has setup an innovation taskforce to improve efficiency of water. “Water is very much on the national agenda. Water conservation needs to be managed at the grassroot levels,” he said.

He said that source sustainability will become a critical part of Jal Jeevan Mission. He referred to four principles for water management including political leadership and people participation.

He also emphasized on greater focus of the government highlighting the ABCDEF (Alignment, Belief, Communication, Delivery, Experience, Forum) of the implementation.

Upendra Prasad Singh, Secretary in the Ministry’s Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, urged the industry to play a responsible role in water conservation and reflect on adoption of traditional practices and source sustainability.

He also emphasized on the need for basin authority for effective and efficient water management.

Singh added that the government is serious in ensuring water security but called on the industry to contribute in this.

He further added that it is important that we create awareness about the water literacy in the country.

Naina Lal Kidwai, Chairman, FICCI Water Mission, highlighted the need for a much stronger regulatory framework.

She suggested having a national wastewater policy and called for for greater corporate stewardship.

“Water use efficiency is a key determinant in addressing both quantity and quality of water and for this, the circular approach towards water needs to be addressed at war footing to utilize water optimally across industry, agriculture and urban demands,” Kidwai stressed.

Dr Mihir Shah, Chair, FICCI Water Awards and Chairman of the Government’s Committee to Draft the National Water Policy acknowledged the changing tradition towards democratization of water.

Shah emphasized on the need for active participation of primary stakeholders during the formulation of policy and regulatory measures for effective implementation. fiinews.com