Experts express concern over depleting water resources
LUCKNOW: Experts here expressed concern over fast-depleting water resources at a recently organised two-day workshop, 'PaniaurSamaj'.
The workshop, which was presided over by state minister Rajendra Chaudhary, discussed various measures to conserve water.
Former director of Geological Survey of India (North) VK Joshi, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for better water management and also highlighted the areas where we have gone wrong.
"We have concretized the Khadar of rivers affecting ground water recharge. We have made bunds to save the habitations along the rivers (generally Khadar) from floods," Joshi said.
"No doubt the habitations are saved but these bunds dam the flow of rain water towards the river during the monsoon. This leads to water logging in the habitats and blame, counter-blames are hurled at each other by the inhabitants of such areas, local bodies and the government," he said.
Joshi said the Ganga plains of Uttar Pradesh can become grainry of the country, if water management is carried out properly.
"There is need to conserve water, store rain water, store flood waters which are wasted as run off otherwise. There is need to have two types of water supplies in urban areas like Lucknow-treated water for drinking and cooking and untreated but recycled water for washing compounds, cars, gardening etc. Misuse of drinking water should be strictly monitored," he said.
Joshi also emphasized on the need to educate school children and make they learn the significance of water and also consequences of scarcity of water.
"Children are the best motivators of their parents, hence such type of education/campaign will have long term impacts,'' he said. Children must be taught that polluting rivers/ water-bodies is a sin. After all we are responsible for the mess and we should try to bring back the glory of rivers.
Experts from South Asian Dialogue on Ecological Democracy (SADED), Harit Samaj and Indian Media Centre for Journalist, participated in the workshop.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Experts-express-concern-over-depleting-water-resources/articleshow/20027375.cms
The workshop, which was presided over by state minister Rajendra Chaudhary, discussed various measures to conserve water.
Former director of Geological Survey of India (North) VK Joshi, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for better water management and also highlighted the areas where we have gone wrong.
"We have concretized the Khadar of rivers affecting ground water recharge. We have made bunds to save the habitations along the rivers (generally Khadar) from floods," Joshi said.
"No doubt the habitations are saved but these bunds dam the flow of rain water towards the river during the monsoon. This leads to water logging in the habitats and blame, counter-blames are hurled at each other by the inhabitants of such areas, local bodies and the government," he said.
Joshi said the Ganga plains of Uttar Pradesh can become grainry of the country, if water management is carried out properly.
"There is need to conserve water, store rain water, store flood waters which are wasted as run off otherwise. There is need to have two types of water supplies in urban areas like Lucknow-treated water for drinking and cooking and untreated but recycled water for washing compounds, cars, gardening etc. Misuse of drinking water should be strictly monitored," he said.
Joshi also emphasized on the need to educate school children and make they learn the significance of water and also consequences of scarcity of water.
"Children are the best motivators of their parents, hence such type of education/campaign will have long term impacts,'' he said. Children must be taught that polluting rivers/ water-bodies is a sin. After all we are responsible for the mess and we should try to bring back the glory of rivers.
Experts from South Asian Dialogue on Ecological Democracy (SADED), Harit Samaj and Indian Media Centre for Journalist, participated in the workshop.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Experts-express-concern-over-depleting-water-resources/articleshow/20027375.cms