Magsaysay winner for independent water policy in J'khand

Ranchi, June 4 (UNI) Magsaysay award winner and social activist Rajendra Singh today advised the Jharkhand government to formulate an independent water policy by awarding the rights of natural water resources to the common man.

Addressing a workshop on ''Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge'' here, Mr Singh said, ''The Centre has prepared a policy to sell water rights but none of the state governments has tried to sort out the existing water crisis.'' Criticising Chief Minister Madhu Koda and Water Resources Minister Kamlesh Singh for their remarks over water preservation, he said it was not possible only by constructing check dams.

He also termed the matters of the state's water policy as 'faulty' adding that 'water-savers' should be felicitated and those who misuse water should be punished.

He cautioned that a number of MNCs were eyeing the state, enriched with natural resources and the crisis would aggravate in the coming years if the government failed to take any measurable steps.

Earlier, the Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister said the state government was concerned over the water crisis and effective measures were being taken in this direction.

UNI