Desiltation of water bodies be included under MGNREGA: MPs

Members cutting across party lines today demanded that de-siltation of water bodies under MGNREGA should be included to help people get more employment opportunities.
Members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Water Resources Ministry told Minister Harish Rawat that de-siltation of water bodies should be introduced under UPA'as flagship rural employment guarantee scheme.
The members also laid stress on getting rid of encroachment in catchment and basin areas and checking pollution of water bodies by industries.
Rawat assured the members that he will initiate a dialogue with the concerned authorities.
He also told the members that a bill can be moved to penalise those industrial units which are polluting the water resources.

He said access to safe water for drinking and other domestic needs continues to be a problem in many areas and due to the impact of climate change the per capita water availability is already low.
Rawat said it has now become obligatory to frame policies which recognise water as a precious natural resource with a social and economic value.
He said the idea of putting a curb on excessive use of ground water is also under discussion.