The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Plans to rope in Israeli firms to tide over water crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Plans to rope in Israeli firms to tide over water crisis

Special Correspondent

Youth, SHGs and corporates should strive to protect water sources: Minister

BOOKLET RELEASE: Public Works Minister Durai Murugan (second from right) releasing a booklet at a seminar in Chennai on Tuesday. The first copy is being received by Urban Development Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi. Acting Deputy Water Commissioner o f Israel Yosef Dreizin (left), SICCI president S. Ramanathan (centre) and Consul–General of Israel, Mumbai, Daniel Zohar Zonshine (right) are in the picture.

CHENNAI: To tide over the water crisis that is threatening the livelihood of the population, the State Government has sought the help of Israeli companies that have succeeded in managing the meagre water sources of that country.

Addressing the ‘Seminar on Water: Vision for Urban Tamil Nadu,’ organised here on Monday by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Embassy of Israel, New Delhi, Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan said: “The only major source of surface water in our State is the Cauvery. We have no other choice than tapping the source for meeting the drinking water and industrial needs of even distant towns and cities. We have recently chosen to take water from the Cauvery to the distant Ramanathapuram and started a scheme to feed all towns en route.” Chennai was dependent on the north east monsoon for water, and the monsoon was not dependable. The city faced a water crisis during 2003-04 and 2004-05. The minimum needs were met through irrigation wells and water tankers.

Minister for Urban Development and CMDA Chairman Parithi Ilamvazhuthi said the Government was striving to augment water resources and improve distribution and management.

Advocating recycling of water used by hospitals, hotels and corporate houses, he said: “Water conservation should not be seen as a government subject. Society, youth, self-help group members and corporates should take part in the campaign to protect the water sources.”

Long-term approach

Consul-General of Israel in Mumbai Daniel Zohar Zonshine said that by adopting a long-term approach, Israel solved the water crisis to a large extent.

“Around 70 per cent of our sewage water is being utilised for agricultural purposes after proper treatment. Spain is using a different technology to convert sewage water for harvesting. They had been able to use only 12 per cent of the water. We can extend a helping hand to you in water treatment, filtering, purifying, rainwater harvesting, water metering and plugging leakages.”

Israel Acting Deputy Water Commissioner Yosef Dreizin said it was agreed to form an institutional mechanism, with the help of the SICCI, to establish “Indo-Israel Joint Business Co-operation.”

It would be a professional body with representatives from the Government and industry and academicians.

SICCI president S. Ramanathan said sustainable water management in India was becoming a necessity with the crisis threatening the livelihood of the population.

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