'Govt should enact laws to ensure water security for all'

The Centre and state governments should enact laws for restoration and conservation of rivers and ground water to ensure water security for all, noted water conservationist Rajendra Singh has said as various parts of the country grapple with drought conditions.
Singh, known as the 'Waterman' of India, said it is high time the governments take steps to ensure proper management of water in view of prevailing conditions.
Singh, who is currently working in Maharashtra on water crisis issue, said provisions should be made to check wastage of water, while emphasising on the need for rainwater harvesting structures for accumulating and storing rainwater.

Referring to water shortage in Rajasthan, the Stockholm Water Prize awardee suggested that the state government should bring in a law to check wastage of water and conserve ground water so that the state does not go the Maharashtra way.
"The Centre should bring in the river rejuvenation bill and the Rajasthan government should work on drafting a bill for water conservation and recharge of ground water, and to provide right to water to people," Singh told PTI.
"Rajasthan is facing water crisis but it should not get worse like Maharashtra. Ground water is limited, recharge of the ground water is also not sufficient. The government should ensure optimum use of every single drop of water and provisions should be in place to check wastage of water," he said.

Singh said the act should have stern provisions to ensure there is no wastage of water and sewage and industrial waste are not disposed of in rivers.

"Such an Act will empower authorities who can ensure that the provisions are implemented and followed properly," he said.
"An efficient mechanism for restriction of activities on water bodies is needed and the state government should also work on making a reserve water bank for a period of at least five years," he suggested.
He said that a 'River Panchayat' or Area Sabha for a water body should also be set up by all stakeholders.

"All such people may hold a river panchayat similar to a gram sabha and undertake to protect the rights of the river," he said.
Rajasthan accounts for 10 per cent of India's geographical area with only one per cent of the country's water resources.
The desert state has 248 ground water blocks with 44 in safe category, 28 semi critical, 9 critical and 164 are over exploited.Three blocks have salinewater.