Greentech Lead India: Union Minister of Water Resources and Parliamentary
Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal has underlined the need for a regulatory authority
that can address the competing demands of different sectors that use water.
Bansal, addressing a seminar on Water, Energy and Food
Security: Call for Solutions, said it is important that the pricing of water
ensures its equitable distribution and the regulatory authority could serve
this end.
There was a need to think differently for rational use of
this scarce commodity. The minister while applauding the recommendations put
forward at the technical sessions of the conference observed that there was a
need for more of such platforms or forums whereby views from all parts of the
country as well as abroad can be taken into account for the benefit of the
masses.
The minister gave away national awards for ground water augmentation to NGOs,
Panchayats as well as institutions which have been involved in the task of
bringing about replenishment of the ground water resources.
He also presented the award for maximum participation in
the painting competition organized for school children to create awareness
about rational use of water.
The technical sessions of the International Conference which saw the
participation of about 800 delegates discussed various aspects of water
resources and its management. The use of water for energy as well as food
security was analyzed upon with efficient water management being the prime
concern.
It was suggested that data collection, research and
capacity building in this area should be enhanced. It was also acknowledged
that water governance needs to be improved. Flood management as well as
decentralized water harvesting was also sought to be promoted in the technical
sessions.