Greater Noida, Nov 1 (FN Agency) President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that providing clean drinking water to the growing population will be a big challenge in the coming years. After inaugurating the 7th India Water Week, the President said: “The issue of water is multifaceted and complex, for which efforts should be made by all stakeholders. We all know that water is limited and only its proper use and recycling can sustain this resource for a long time. Therefore, all of us should try to consume this resource carefully.” She said that it was impossible to imagine life without water. “In Indian civilization, water is not only important in life but also in the journey after life. That is why all water sources are considered sacred. But at the present if we look at the situation, the condition seems worrying.” Murmu said that due to the increasing population, the condition of our rivers and reservoirs was deteriorating, village ponds were drying up and many local rivers had become extinct. “Water is being over-exploited in agriculture and industries.
The environmental balance on the earth is getting disturbed, weather patterns are changing and unseasonal excessive rainfall has become common. In such a situation, discussing the management of water is a very commendable step,” she said. She said that the issue of water was relevant not only for India but for the entire world. “This issue is linked to national security too as the vast amount of available freshwater is spread between two or more countries. Therefore, this combined water resource is an issue in which international cooperation is necessary,” she said. She pointed out that Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel and the European Union were participating in the 7th India Water Week and expressed confidence that all will benefit from the exchange of ideas and technologies on this forum. The President said that water was a major resource for agriculture as well.
“According to an estimate, about 80 per cent of the water resource in our country is used for agricultural purposes. Therefore, proper use and management of water in irrigation is very important for water conservation.” She said: “The ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ is a major initiative. This nationwide scheme is being implemented to increase the irrigated area in the country. In line with water conservation goals, the scheme also envisages adoption of precision-irrigation and water saving technologies.” The President urged people to be aware of its misuse and make others aware about water conservation. She appealed to the common people, farmers, industrialists and especially children to make water conservation a part of their ethics.