Stockholm Water Prize laureate and renowned water expert, Madhav Chitale, said collective action is needed from government, citizens and various stakeholders to promote water literacy.
Stockholm Water Prize laureate and renowned water expert, Madhav Chitale, said collective action is needed from government, citizens and various stakeholders to promote water literacy.
Speaking at the seminar on ‘Water to cities: responding to urban challenges’ at the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) auditorium on the occasion of World Water Day on Tuesday, he called for a change of mindset towards water management.
“The country more or less failed to realise the importance of water management. Other developed nations, including those in Europe, are far ahead in handling their water resources and better equipped in water conservation. Forward thinking, along with technological support, is the need of the hour for effective water management in the country,” he said.
Chitale said local bodies should play a pivotal role in groundwater management rather than depending on the Centre or state governments. “Municipal corporations can set up more groundwater monitoring stations in the city. Though there is data available with the state government, many a times it is inadequate,” he said.
He said proper waste management should be carried out by the local bodies to prevent water pollution in Pune. “There should be proper mechanism in place to segregate plastic, toxic and food waste. Citizens should also be aware about the water pollutants, and this can be achieved only through people’s participation,” he said.
Speaking about the water availability in the state, he said Vidarbha and Konkan regions are lagging in water abundance. On optimum utilisation of water, he said, “Cost benefit analyses of water, water rationing and collective decisions are needed to ensure effective water supply. Pune being in the lap of Sahyadris had a natural advantage over other cities in terms of water storage. The release of effluents into rivers should be stopped and proper water sewage treatment should be carried out.”
The seminar was organised by Ecosan Services Foundation, Pune Municipal Corporation, Jaldindi and EcoLogic Foundation.
Jaldindi director Vishwas Yeole; Ecosan Services Foundation director Dayanand Panse and CoEP director Anil Sahasrabuddhe also spoke at the function.
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