Prof Soz advises States to observe '2007' as 'water year'

New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz has asked the State Governments and the Ministries concerned to observe the year 2007 as a 'Water Year' to generate awareness about conservation and utilisation of water as a resource essential for development.

In a letter to the Chief Ministers and his colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers, Prof Soz has sought a requisite response from all stakeholders about the need to involve them in drawing more appropriate strategies. He reminded that the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) had attached a priority to the water sector and management for the overall development of economy.

He said irrigation and drinking water were two important components of Bharat Nirman which had to be allotted the highest priority. Conferences, workshops, seminars and exhibitions should be organised all over to involve the masses, he added.

He has also forwarded a list of 20 major activities, which the Union Ministry of Water Resources is undertaking during the year.

An important challenge is also to address the natural disasters related to water, that is flood and drought, he added.

For successful implementation of water resources development programme, it would be essential to bring all the stakeholders -- policy makers and decision makers, project managers and local authorities, NGOs, communities, social workers and individuals and also the private sectors -- to ensure successful implementation of the policies and programmes for better management and development of the water sector.

He also drew their attention to the Water Resources Ministry according attention to develop a consensus on appropriate measures, including legislation on better management of the water sector including participatory irrigation management, regulated use and conservation.

UNI