Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today called upon people to participate in water harvesting, conservation and management to "avoid a Latur-like situation".
"Water harvesting, conservation and management are possible through awareness campaigns and participation of people should be ensured," he said while addressing a programme on 'Replenish Jharkhand - Rainwater Harvesting' here.
"Getting water appears to be easy and cheap, but if its importance is not understood now, it could become costlier," Das said.
Citing the example of drought-hit Latur in Maharashtra, he said they (the people) did not conserve water and faced the consequence. So it is everybody's responsibility to ensure that there is no wastage of water.
The Chief Minister also said a tree plantation campaign would be launched on July 15. Planting of one crore trees would be taken up and people should participate in it.
State Food Processing Minister Saryu Rai, Urban Development Minister C P Singh, noted social worker and secretary of NGO Vikas Bharati Ashok Bhagat and Simon Oraon, better known as Jharkhand's waterman were among those present on the occasion.
Drought-hit Latur in Marathwada region of Maharashtra is in the news for acute water shortage and crop failure.
