49 nations to participate in 'Water Summit' in Dec

Singapore, Feb 22: Forty-nine Asian head of states will participate in the first 'Asia Pacific Water Summit' to tackle the growing problem of water across the globe.

The summit agenda is being prepared to address the wide ranging subjects related to water issues in the region, where an additional eight billion dollars a year investment is required to manage water resources, the organisers said.

This is above the one billion dollars being invested by the government and private investors, they said at their first meeting here today.

They will meet for the second time in July in preparation of the summit which will be held in Japan on December 3-4.

The forum Chairman Professor Tommy Koh of Singapore said, ''The objectives include making water a priority project in each Asia Pacific country, having it directly manage by the Prime Minister's Office, rather than a multi-lateral agencies and ministries.'' Besides, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be preparing an Asian Water Development Outlook for the top leaders, including heads of private investment institutes, to understand the scope of development required for the water resources in the region, said ADB Principal Water Supply and Sanitation specialist K E Seetharam.

''Water is one of the biggest challenge being faced by the world, even Japan, the developed Asian country suffers from shortage and flooding,'' said Hideaki Oda of the Japan Water Forum, which has initiated the Asia Pacific Water Forum.

UNI