Strategy to preserve water bodies must: Medha Patkar

Convener of NBA conclave Medha Patkar addressing the two-day national conclave on Sunday.

Staff Reporter :

IT IS necessary to preserve water bodies and a strategy needs to be developed, said Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist and convenor of conclave, while addressing the two-day national conclave on conservation of water bodies. Chief guest of the conclave were Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala, Sharad Chandra Behar, Chinmay Mishra, Sandeep Dixit, Soumya Dutta and others. Second session focused on conclusions drawn from the river valley planning experience including Ganga and Narmada. Status and future of various river valleys Kosi, Kaveri, Godavari, Tapi and others was discussed by experts. Group discussion topics involved large dams and alternatives in water policy of water and energy, land acquisition, displacement and rehabilitation in river valley planning.

According to sources, these 40 rivers flow in 36 districts like Chhindwara, Neemuch, Agar-Malwa, Alirajpur, Chhatarpur, Seoni, Shahdol and Sheopur. While draft ‘Right to Water Act’ is being finalised as a part of efforts to conserve water, the campaign to promote rain and groundwater conservation is also being intensified. While Water Resources, Public Health Engineering and Agriculture Departments have been asked to steer the campaign, important roles have been envisioned for Panchayat and Rural Development Department. An action plan has been prepared to revive traditional water sources. As far as rivers are concerned, water flows only for four months during monsoon. ‘River Revitalisation’ programme has been prepared to sustain this flow throughout the year.

Experts discussed on impact and legal scope of river valley environmental plans, economic, social, environmental aspects, process and public intervention of dams and resources, rights, protection, exploitation and development of river and alluvial direction priority in water utility, tourism, soil erosion, farming and irrigation water sharing, profit area development, loss supply, rehabilitation, environment, sand mining, hydropower and nuclear power, water to industries, pollution, fisheries, water transportation, public rights in decision making, etc. On Monday many other issues will be discussed.