Every village and Town get its own water structure

Bhopal. The campaign will be launched to ensure that every village and city has its own water structure. Everyone has right over water. It will not be privatised. A law will be enacted to save lakes in the state. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said, while Water Sanitation Scenario Workshop here on Friday. He also released report “Excreta Matters” prepared by Centre for Science and Environment. Minister of State for Health and Medical Education Shri Mahendra Hardia and Director General of Centre for Science & Environment Sushri Sunita Narayan were also present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that recharging of rivers is a major challenge. A scheme is being chalked out to free Narmada of pollution and make it an ideal river. He called for deliberations on ‘whose development and at what cost’. Groundwater has its limitations. Water crisis has emerged since groundwater has not been recharged. Over seven lakh water structures have been built in the state during Jalabhishek Abhiyan. It has been given the shape of a mass movement. Work to recharge one river in each district has also been taken up. He said that water also gets polluted due to use of chemical fertilisers in agricultural fields. Besides increasing agricultural production, we will have to think about pollution so that water remains pure. For this, use of organic fertiliser will have to be encouraged.
Shri Chouhan said that sewage treatment is also important. Maryada Abhiyan is being conducted in the state to end the curse of open area defecation. Now, Urban Sanitation Mission is also being launched. A scheme has been launched in Bundelkhand to connect old lakes with rivers. He said that nature should be tapped and not exploited. Only as much should be taken from nature as can be compensated. He said that it is the priority of the State Government to make clean drinking water in big cities. He informed that “Excreta Matters” will be studied while chalking out urban schemes.
Sushri Sunita Narayan gave a presentation of her survey report. She said that the city which does not ponder about is water and its discharge cannot save its rivers and lakes. Need for water will heighten further in future. There is no lack of water in cities. But there is imparity in distribution and more water losses. The number of cities in the country, which saved their water bodies, is quite few. Urban bodies are not paying attention to disposal of sewage. She said that everyone has right over clean water for which affordable water supply will have to be ensured. The city, which does not care about its water, will not survive.