Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday underscored the need for a river basin management with focus on water use efficiency both in agriculture and industry.
Inaugurating the Odisha Environmental Congress here, Patnaik said conscious efforts should be made by all to reduce pollution load on river systems for the benefit of human society as well as the nature. He said the state government has taken up several programmes for water conservation, rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge in a sustainable manner.
The government has started an ambitious programme for plantation of two crore saplings on 1-km radius of river Mahanadi and other major rivers of the state for water and soil conservation, the Chief Minister remarked.
Stating that the rivers are integrally involved with the growth and development of human civilisation it is the responsibility of the society to ensure that rivers remain in good health and continue to serve the humanity in a sustainable manner.
The gluttony for water, territorial approach to ownership of river water and utter disregard to environment needs of the river system often lead to water conflict.
He said unless all riparian states respect the basic principle and philosophy of equitable sharing of river water with due regard to its health and follow the territorial approach such conflicts are bound to magnify in future and lead to disharmony in the country.
Patnaik said such attempts must be addressed by judicious approach of the needs of each of the stake holders including that of the river. None of the stake holders should be allowed to shy away from their mandated responsibilities towards healthy river system.
The Chief Minister said his government strongly believes that healthy rivers are required for a healthy society. The state government is committed to equitable distribution and sustainable utilisation of water available on earth.
PNN