PM Modi talks about the importance of Jal Shakti on World Water Day
New Delhi, Mar 22 (IBNS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, reminded everyone about the importance of Jal Shakti (the power of water) on the occasion of World Water Day, which is celebrated on March 22 every year.
Tweeted PM Modi, "#WorldWaterDay is an occasion to highlight the importance of Jal Shakti and reaffirm our commitment towards water conservation. When water is conserved, our cities, villages and hardworking farmers benefit tremendously."
However, the BJP's arch rival, the Congress chose to take a dig at PM Modi on the occasion of World Water Day and tweeted, "On this #WorldWaterDay, let us remind PM Modi that Mother Ganga is still waiting for him to take some concrete action as opposed to his jumlas on the Namami Gange Programme."
International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22 1993 as the first World Water Day.
India too joined the world on Thursday to highlight water conservation and the problems of water depletion.
The Rajya Sabha too observed World Water Day on Thursday with Chairman Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu underlining need for supporting conservation of fresh water resources through natural methods to ensure availability of sufficient potable water for the future generations.
"Our culture holds water and rivers in very high esteem equating it to life itself and lay great emphasis on its conservation," tweeted Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, "Today is World Water Day. Our govt’s Jal Dharo Jal Bharo scheme for water conservation is one of our most successful schemes. We have delivered 5 times more than what we promised. Our government is committed to providing clean drinking water to every block in West #Bengal."
"On this #WorldWaterDay, let's pledge to safeguard our water resources and secure a water-scarcity free future through sustainable practices< tweeted N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
According to media reports, a UNESCO report has said that India will be facing an intensified water crisis across the nation by 2050, with many parts of central India battling a withdrawal of 40 per cent of the renewable surface water resources.
Per capita availability of water has dipped from 5,177 cubic metres in 1951 to 1,545 cubic metres in 2011, said NDTV in a report.
The theme for World Water Day 2018 is Nature for Water.
According to experts, nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of the world's water challenges. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.
Image: UN-Water/twitter
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