India, Germany discuss water, waste management challenges

India and Germany on Wednesday discussed various challenges and solutions related to water and waste management, resource efficiency and sustainable urban development.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and his German counterpart Barbara Hendricks addressed the two-day Indo-German Environment Forum in New Delhi on Wednesday on issues related to water and waste management.

Addressing the meet, Hendricks praised New Delhi's efforts to clean river Ganga.

"Water is an elementary resource for our lives. Water is vital for our people and the environment. Responsible water use is a task for each and every one of us. The state had a task for ensuring to clean water for all people and facilitate sustainable use," said Hendricks.

She also spoke about the high-level of pollution in West German rivers.

Hendricks said that West Germany was facing water-related challenges due to dynamic economic development which led to massive pollution of water bodies.

The river line was so polluted in 1960 that there were no longer fish in it, she added.

Javadekar told the gathering that the new government aimed at achieving energy efficiency and water use efficiency by 2020.

"Management conservation, optimum utilization of water is one of the biggest challenges being faced by the mankind. National water mission aims at conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring more equitable distribution mainly through increasing water use efficiency at least by 20 percent," said Javadekar.

He also complimented rag pickers for playing a very important role in waste management.

Speaking about waste management, Hendricks added that Germany has 40 years of experience in building modern waste management systems.

"The question of how to deal with our waste. A well functioning waste management system protects the environment and human health, saves resources and is climate friendly and socially satiable," said Hendricks.

Germany and India have been long-standing environmental cooperation partners. The first Indo-German Environment Forum was held in 2008 in New Delhi.