Rajasthan to get its share from Ravi-Beas project: Soz

Jaipur, Nov 15(UNI) Union Minister of Water Resources SaifudDin Soz today assured that Rajasthan would get its share of water from the Ravi Beas project.

The minister, while inaugurating an international seminar on 'Water management' organised by the Rotary International here, was responding to the grievance of Rajasthan Irrigation Minister that the state has been deprived of its share of water from the project.

Mr Soz also invited Rajasthan Chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Irrigation minister to Delhi to discuss the issue.

The Union Minister, while elaborating the steps taken by his ministry to address the issue of depleting ground water resources said, the government has constituted a ''ground water advisory council'' to suggest measures to augment ground water resources.

He said even now majority of the rural population depends on ground water for meeting their daily requirements.

He emphasised ''with increasing pressure of population and livestock the number of over exploited zones in the country has been on the increase''.

''Coupled with the depleting ground water level, the presence of fluride and arsemic substances has posed new challenges. Compounding the problem is the discharge of untreated domestic and industrial effluents".

The minister also stressed upon the need for efficient management of irrigation water by judicious use. He said "our canal and irrigation system has to be made more efficient and scientific to address the issue of water crisis''.

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