The Hindu : National : BJP will make access to water a fundamental right

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Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009
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BJP will make access to water a fundamental right

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: After Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani held a meeting with experts on water here on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced that if it came to power it would make access to drinking water a fundamental right and conservation of water a fundamental duty.

Party leader Sushma Swaraj briefed reporters on the outcome of the meeting held at Mr. Advani’s residence. It was part of a series of interactions Mr. Advani has organised with experts in different areas. The party wants to include some of these issues in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections.

Ms. Swaraj said if a National Democratic Alliance government was formed after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, a drinking water and sanitation mission would be set up under the Prime Minister.

Among the experts present were Director-General of The Energy and Resources Institute R.K. Pachauri, the former chairman of the Central Ground Water Board D.K. Chadha, Chairperson of the Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain and the former head of the gastroenterology department at the AIIMS, B.N. Tandon.

It was noted that safe and clean drinking water was not yet available to 10 per cent of India’s population. This was responsible for a large number of diseases. The other related problem of sanitation also needed attention.

Experts felt that India had adequate water resources to meet demand. However, it needed to increase its storage capacity and draw up plans to use the resource in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Minimum mandatory standards for the quality of drinking water should be laid down and it should be made available free for all. It was felt that 20 litres of water per capita per day should be ensured to cover the need for water for uses other than drinking.

Some experts pleaded for removal of inequities in the supply of water.

Mr. Advani assured the experts that a BJP-led government would make water and sanitation an important part of its programme.

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