Topic: India Water Week – 2017

India is the second most populous country in the world, with more than 1 billion citizens. Roughly half of India’s population, a staggering 522 million, practice open defecation.

Water is the harbinger and sustainer of all life on the planet, especially the humankind. With the growing population and improvement in economic status, the demand for available water resources is also increasing. As a result, there is an urgency to conserve and utilize the limited availability of water resources in an optimum and efficient manner to satisfy larger needs.

The World Bank estimates that 21 percent of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water and the lack of hygiene practices. Further, more than 500 children under the age of five die each day from diarrhea in India alone.

Since 2005, Water.org has played a significant role in India’s progress towards improved water, sanitation and hygiene. Through Water Credit, we have empowered more than 4.8 million people across twelve states with access to safe water and sanitation.

Government is organizing India Water Week since 2012 as an annual international event on order to establish an international event focused on water resources of India. The first event was organized in New Delhi in 2012 with theme ‘Water, Energy and Food Security: Call for Solutions’. So far, four editions of India Water Week have been organized in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. The recommendations and action points emerged during earlier events of India Water Week have been sent to all concerned Ministries of Central Government as well as all state governments for their appropriate implementation.

The 5th edition of India Water Week (IWW) will be celebrated with a multi-disciplinary conference and a concurrently running exhibition enriching theme and showcasing technologies and solutions available for areas under deliberation of the meet.

India Water Week is an annual International forum where the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India discusses key strategies with eminent stakeholders for conservation, preservation and optimum use of available water. In its previous four editions key issues like water, energy & food security etc., water use efficiency etc. were discussed by more than 1000 participants. This year the ‘Largest Water Resources Event in India, 5th India Water Week (IWW) 2017’, is based on the theme ‘Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth’.

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated India Water Week-2017 today (October 10, 2017) in New Delhi. About 1500 delegates from India and 13 other countries are attending the five day international event. The theme of India Water Week 2017 is Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth.

The India Water Week (IWW) 2017 will be organized by the Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR in co-ordination with nodal ministries of Agriculture; Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Rural Development; Urban Development; Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation; Power; New and Renewable Energy; Niti Aayog along with their associated expert organizations and Public Sector Units, key International Bodies and private and public business houses.

The event will have the following major components: Water, Food and Energy Security – Essential requirement for sustainable development; Water for inclusive Growth; Sustainable energy development – Key for all round economic growth; and Water and Society.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that water is essential to life. It is fundamental to the economy and to ecology – and to human equity. The issue of water is becoming still more critical in view of climate change and related environmental concerns. Better and more efficient use of water is a challenge for Indian agriculture and industry alike.

The President said that currently, 80 per cent of water in India is used by agriculture and only 15 per cent by industry. In the coming years, this ratio will change. The total demand for water will also rise. Efficiency of water use and reuse, therefore, has to be built into the blueprint of industrial projects. Business and industry need to be a part of the solution.

The President said that in urban India, 40 billion liters of waste water is produced every day. It is vital to adopt technology to reduce the toxic content of this water, and to deploy it for irrigation and other purposes. This has to be part of any urban planning program.

The President urged a water management approach that is localized. He stated that it should empower village and neighborhood communities and build their capacity to manage, allocate and value their water resources.

The President said providing safe drinking water to a population spread across six hundred thousand villages and urban areas is not just a project proposal, it is a sacred commitment.

The government has prepared a strategic plan for ensuring drinking water supply in all rural areas by 2022, when India complete 75 years of Independence. By that year, the goal is to cover 90 per cent of rural households with piped water supply. We cannot fail. The deliberations of this conference have to ensure that we do not fail.

Read further:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/india-water-week-2017-inaugurated-285-new-irrigation-projects-to-be-117101000441_1.html