Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday expressed grave concern over growing water shortage and said unless there was 20 to 33 per cent forest coverage there could not be adequate rainfall.
"Studies suggest that unless we have in between 20 to 33 per cent forest coverage adequate rainfall would continue to elude," Manjhi said while inaugurating a seminar on water management. Magsaysay awardee "water man" Rajindra Singh was among others present at the seminar.
The Bihar CM said that due to rampant urbanisation, forest cover had declined to 7 per cent. But, due to sustained efforts of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to promote aforestation drive, the coverage has increased to nearly 11 per cent now in the state, he said.
Drawing attention towards stark reality of water depletion, Manjhi said today its difficult to find a well even in a village.
Moreover, whereas in the past for installation of a handpump, water could be found at a depth of 10 feet but now it is difficult to even get it below 30 feet, he said at the seminar organised by a NGO "Public Rehabilitation and Welfare Centre, Bihar".
The CM said that the state government in its new building laws made it mandatory to have water harvesting facility for approval of building plans.
"Water man" Rajinder Singh shared the CM's concern and said it was an irony that a state like Bihar which has a major portion of river Ganga flowing has water shortage.
He advocated a comprehensive river policy instead of water policy. The river policy could allow agricultural activities on river plains minus commercial activities.
Comments
0 comment