DEW DELHI ASKED TO USE WATER JUDICIOUSLY

DEW DELHI ASKED TO USE WATER JUDICIOUSLY

With the fate of Renuka Dam hanging in balance, water experts have finally started declaring that Delhi has to become self sufficient and instead of augmenting its supply, needs to manage its demand. On the occasion of World Water Day, Delhi Jal Board and The Times of India organized a seminar on water conservation, 'Be Water Wise'.

Chief secretary P K Tripathi stressed on the need to use water judiciously. "There is a need for a multi-dimensional solution involving both engineering solutions and a change in attitudes, he said. Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and Environment , pointed out that preservation of local water bodies, management of water demand and less focus on augmentation and re-invention of flush toilets would help bring a change in the water management system. "There is barely any use of recycled waste water which, in a city like Delhi, is most important to cut down on our dependence on other states," she said. Ramesh Negi, CEO, DJB said that potable water demand was a very small percentage of the country's water consumption , the largest sector being agriculture. "There is a need for regular inter-sectoral dialogues involving industry and farmers and also municipalities and farmers. We should bear in mind that if we cut down on wasteful consumption , others who have limited access to water will benefit from it," he said.

                                                             Prof. John Kurakar