Save 85 per cent rain water which drains wastefully, says expert

Jaipur, May 17 (UNI) As much as 85 per cent of rain water drains away as waste every year in India, but with the proper application of rain harvesting and water conservation means it can be saved and utilised to solve the water crisis being faced by the country, says Magsaysay Awardee Rajendra Singh.

Quoting the Water Resources Ministry's figures, Mr Singh told reporters here today that the country received 4,000 billion cubic meter rain water annually but of this we could tap only 600 billion cubic meter for use as drinking water, irrigation purpose and inindustrial use.

The water conservationists also said that rest of the 3,400 billion cubic meter water drained waste which could have been utilized in recharging our ground water table, rivers and other traditional sources of water.

This could be possible with application of practically viable and decentralised people oriented means of rain water harvesting, traditional water conservation and interlinking of rivers.

While effective mass awareness and total people's participation is must for this cause, the government also required to play meaningful and facilator's role in this direction by amending suitably its Water Policy 2002.

He said that Jal Biradari, a national brotherhood of individuals from all walks of life like farmers, social activists,NGOs, research institutes and experts, are spearheading a campaign for past 5 years for generating awareness and win people's participation for the cause of water conservation.

UNI