Rajendra Singh flays govt's move to drain out flood water

Jaipur, Sep 15 (UNI) 'Waterman' Magsaysay awadree Rajendra Singh has flayed the government's decision to drain out flood water from the waterlogged Kawas and Malwa villages in Barmer district.

He said the government should channelise its energies for resettlement of the displaced people to safer places rather than draining out the water.

Addressing a press conference here today Rajendra Singh said the flood in the desert distrcit like Barmer is nature's bounty that happens once in a blue moon. The government instead of treating it as a boon in the water parched desert district is wasting its energy for decanting the rain water accumulated over a large radius of about 18-29 km. He said the government's move is not feasable as decanting of water would require crores of rupees and consume a lot of time. The government must leave the water as it is and concentrate on rehabilitating the villagers affected by the flood to a safer places, he opined.

He said ''The flood water is a huge asset for the people of Barmer. Rather than thinking of draining out this water and allowing it to flow down the sea through Luni river efforts should be made for making the best use of the available water that has accumulated in Kawas and Malwa vilalge'' He said though the people were resettled in Malwa and Kawas villages it was unsafe as the villages were under a low depression area. He said according to the satellite images received from the remote sensing department of the ISRO the villages are located in the natural drainage area of various rivers like Rohali, Nimbla, Leek and Cheepasariya.

Prof M S Rathore of the Institute of Development Studies and the president of Rajasthan Jal Biradari said the notion that the water is contaminated and unfit for any use has no scientific proof and it could be utilised for cultivation of crops.

He also repudiated the government version that the villagers were not willing to relocate to other places.

UNI PJJ MS MIR DS/HT1400