|
Sarkaritel.com News and Features
Public-private
partnership can solve water crisis
New Delhi, December 08, 2006
India needs to build public-private partnerships to solve
its water crisis, improve supply and bring in new technology,
said the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz,
at the `National seminar on Water Equipment & Management’
organized by the CII. He urged CII to focus on these issues
and interact with experts in the US with regards to climate
change.
The ministry, on its part, will incorporate the Industry’s
feedback generated through such interactions into the
water-related policies, said Prof Soz. He said strategies need
to be carefully designed so that they benefit everyone. The
ministry is working on the preservation of groundwater in the
country.
The Water Resources Ministry is also working on several
schemes on water supply management. “Conservation of water
resources is possible only through creating a consciousness
among citizens through education. It also involves the
participation of local people,” said the minister.
Augmenting drinking water and water resources to the poor
is the ministry’s topmost priority today. “There is need for
efficient management of water in an integrated manner. The
water intensive industries have a significant role to play.
Adoption of latest technology at the micro and macro levels is
required,” declared
the minister.
Shortage of water supply is a major concern in India. India
needs to double its water supply by 2025 to ensure food,
livelihood, health and ecological security for a growing
population, said Chairman, CII Water Equipment & Management
Division & Managing Director, Ion Exchange (India), Mr. Rajesh
Sharma. “The Minster has asked CII to give its pre-budget
recommendations on the issue.”
“While groundwater development has had important
implications for the economy, its overuse is a major concern.
A World Bank report warns the country could far outstrip its
supplies by 2020,” he said.
Legislation must be brought in to ensure no extra water is
withdrawn in a year where the quantity has not been
replenished by the natural process. “A plan to manage our
water resources in a sustainable way is critically important.
We must create an infrastructure that ensures sustainable
water supply for the country’s agriculture, industrial and
domestic use.”
The first priority must be to increase seepage and storage
through watershed development, rainwater harvesting and
revival of rainwater storage systems, Mr. Sharma added. “The
next challenge is to conserve fresh water.”
Recycle of industrial effluent and domestic sewage will
also conserve vast volumes of fresh water, reduce pollution
and protect the environment, he said. As in Japan, the
industries should be helped with incentives through low
interest bearing loans and custom duty exemptions for
installation and improvement of pollution control equipment.
“In order to encourage industry and society to invest in
waste water treatment and recycling, it is important that
equipment is made more affordable,” Mr. Sharma said. There is
a need for realistic and rationalized tariff structures.
“Further incentives can be provided to the industry in the
form of high income tax depreciation at 100 percent.”
However, the Vice President, Thermax Ltd, Mr. Harshad
Dastikar said that India would not have been able to move
ahead on issues related to water without the commitment of the
government.
E-Mail :
newseditor@sarkaritel.com |
