New Delhi: Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti will inaugurate the national conference on issues for optimal use of water resources called “Jal Manthan†on November 20, 2014 in New Delhi. The three day event has been organized by the Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation take up wide ranging consultations with the state irrigation ministers, Secretaries for Water Resources and a range of other stakeholders. The focus will be on refining policies of the Ministry to make them more people friendly and responsive to the needs of the states.
The first day of the conference will be devoted for deliberations on the three flagship schemes being implemented by the Union Government through Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, viz., Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies and Flood Management Programme. New proposals, such as, Incentivizing States for Water Sector Reforms, India Water Resources Information System and Hydrology Project III would also be introduced. The programme will involve participation from concerned Ministers and Principal Secretaries from the State Governments and provide them an opportunity to highlight their concerns and impediments being faced by them in effective implementation of these Schemes.
The second day will be devoted to issues related to inter-linking of rivers in the country. It is proposed to deliberate on various aspects of inter-linking as the programme has evoked strong reactions from civil societies and environmental groups. The Event would provide a platform to address the concerns and clarify issues raised by them. On the third day of Conference, it is proposed to hold deliberations on broader issues of water conservation and management with civil societies, non-governmental organisations and water user communities. The focus will be on water Security Humane Face to Water Projects Farm Water Management and Rejuvenation of Water Bodies.
It may be recalled that the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharati has emphasized the need to hold wider consultations amongst various stakeholders engaged in water resource development and management to achieve synergy of water resource development with environment, wildlife and various social and cultural practices. About 300 experts are expected to attend the conference.