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Rajasthan to get its share in Ravi-Beas waters soon

Special Correspondent

Soz invites Vasundhara to Delhi for talks

JAIPUR: Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday said Rajasthan would soon get its due share in the Ravi-Beas waters and invited Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Irrigation Minister Sanwarlal Jat to New Delhi for deliberations on the issue.

Inaugurating a seminar on water management organised by Rotary International here, Prof. Soz affirmed that the Centre would extend all possible support to the State Government in solving the problem of drinking water.

He underlined the need to manage the extraction of ground water in an efficient and sustainable manner in the water-scarcity States like Rajasthan.

Expressing concern over uncontrolled extraction of ground water, Prof. Soz pointed out that the Centre had recently set up a Ground Water Advisory Council for Water Recharge. "I am working with water experts and non-Governmental organisations to build ways for conserving rainwater and recharging ground water'', he said.

Referring to a survey report on ground water, the Minister said the ground water situation was reaching a critical situation in some parts of the country.

Over-exploitation of water had not only resulted in depletion of water resources but had also affected the quality of water.

Prof. Soz felt that the discharge of domestic sewerage and industrial effluents had compounded the problem and said that conservation of water was the only solution to the issue.

"Conservation of water should be taken up as a mass movement in which every individual should have a contribution. The objective of efficient use of available water resources can be achieved only with active participation of all sections of society,'' he said.

Prof. Soz also released a book titled "Arvari Sansad'' authored by water activist Rajendra Singh. Rotary International President William B. Byod, past district governor Ron Denham and past Rotary International Director Sushil Gupta also addressed the participants.

The State Irrigation Minister, Mr. Jat, in his keynote address, said a draft water policy had been framed by the State Government and would be finalised soon in consultation with the stakeholders.

Mr. Jat said Rajasthan should get its due share of water from other States in accordance with the inter-State water agreements.

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