India Water Week-2013 commences in New Delhi today
~Emphasis on Challenges and Opportunities in Efficient Water Management ~

April 8, 2013, New Delhi:  Highlighting the issues related to judicious use of water and water-conservation, the second edition of India Water Week-2013 being organised between 8th – 12th April 2013 with the theme “Efficient Water Management: Challenges and Opportunities”. was inaugurated today at Vigyan Bhawan by Honorable President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Also, present at the occasion were Shri Harish Rawat, Union Minister for Water Resources, Hon’ble Kausea Natano, Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Ambassadors of various countries, Secretaries of various union ministries, Principal Secretaries of States & Senior Officers from the Ministries  and its associated Organizations.

Experts from various sectors such as irrigation, water-supply, hydro and thermal energy-production, steel, cement had gathered at the capital today for a five-day long event which will have a conference-cum-policy dialogue forum coupled with a Business to Business exhibition. The event’s theme this year is “Efficient Water Management: Challenges and Opportunities” which focuses on framing policies that would recognize water as an integral part of the eco-system, a precious natural resource with a social and economic value and to implement these policies for the prosperity and well being of mankind.

Welcoming the president and the audience, Mr. S. K. Sarkar, Secretary, Ministry of water Resources said, “It is my privilege to welcome you to the second edition of India Water Week 2013 thematised on ‘Efficient Water Management: Challenges and Opportunities.’ As water is a scarce natural resource, it proves to show India is facing a severe danger of depleting water resource. Availability of water has declined and demand has risen in the past year in all the sectors. As our population has risen to 1.7 billion people, this theme of water conservation is even more important and apt at present. So the availability and management of water in agriculture, irrigation and domestic use is very important.  At this conference, we aim and propose to improved efficiency and organizing of water efficiency. More than 1,000 delegates are expected to participate in our endeavor. I extend a special thanks to the president, Minister of Water Resources and all the people present to have come and graced the occasion.”

Thanking and welcoming the president, Mr. Harish Rawat, Union Minister of Water Resources said, “Respected President, your presence here is tantamount to the importance, being given to the water sector, in our country. Your blessings will go in a long way, in inspiring us for putting the whole-hearted efforts, in addressing the water related challenges, and bringing solutions for them.

Since 2012, the Ministry of Water Resources is celebrating the India Water Week, to showcase our sincerity and efforts, in exhibiting the importance given to the water sector in the country. India Water Week, a five day long event, provides excellent forum for policy planner, water managers, professionals, scientists, academicians, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders, to deliberate on the issues therein. The event provides us platform, to share the best practices, adopted across the world. It has helped us in generating innovative ideas, and recognising the significant works, by the individuals and the organisations. Growing population and urbanisation, combined with fast increasing developmental needs, have put a tremendous pressure, on our water availability. I am quite hopeful that, we will get whole-hearted support from the Planning Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, for achieving target, fixed by my Ministry, under AIBP, RRR, DRIP programmes which, are crucial to increase the storage capacity, to meet the challenges of future. Continuous depletion of ground water is another challenge before us. We have about 802 over exploited talukas, 169 critical talukas, and 523 semi-critical talukas, as far as ground water situation is concerned.  It calls for serious all round action programme, to augment the ground water resources in these areas. We have also laid emphasis on incentivizing the use of efficient irrigation practices, recycling of water, including wastewater in different manners.   Undertaking pilot projects for improvement in water use efficiency, in collaboration with States, has also been proposed in National Water Mission.

Our scheme for “Information, Education and Communication” is aimed, to create awareness among various target groups, about the importance of development and management of water resources, in a holistic manner. Effective transfer of technology and knowledge, and sharing of experiences among developed and developing countries, and their implementation, need to be promoted, to further the cause of efficient water management. Sir, India Water Week 2013, will be able to provide opportunities, to usher in new & innovative thinking, and will come out with the best practicable solutions.”

After lightning the ceremonial lamp at the inaugural of India Water Week 2013, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of India said, “I am delighted to join you for the inauguration of the India water week organized by the ministry of Water Resources. It is a privilege to be a part of this august gathering comprising renowned public figures, policy makers, experts and professionals. The available water must be managed judiciously to meet the twin burden of population growth and economic development. Conservation, balanced distribution and reclamation of used water are essential cogs in the wheel of water management. As part of the national action plan on climate change, the national water mission was launched in 2011 with the objectives of water conservation, minimization of wastage and equitable distribution. I urge all stakeholders to work towards its success. Our efforts must be directed at mitigating the regional imbalance in water availability. Equitable allocation of water across the country could be made possible by inter-basin water transfer. But for that, the environmental and socio-economic impact should be studied before such an initiative is envisaged. We must also strive to achieve equity in the allocation of water between urban and rural areas. Rain water harvesting should be popularized by dovetailing existing rural development schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The 3R strategy of reduce, recycle and reuse must find application in our farmlands. Our system should encourage judicious use of water. I am hopeful that the India Water Week 2013 would be able to provide meaningful solutions and guide our approach to water management. I also expect the Water Expo 2013 to showcase exciting technological possibilities for sustaining this vital resource.”

About India Water Week-2013

On behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources in association with other Union Ministries: Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, Ministry of Environment and Forest, National Water Development Agency, Central Water Commission, National Institute of Hydrology, Planning Commission and with active support of various State Governments, Industries, NGOs and others are organising the 2^nd India Water Week 2013   The event will have a conference-cum-policy dialogue forum coupled with a Business to Business exhibition. This year's Water Week have two major components namely, a multi-disciplinary dialogue in the form of a conference and a concurrently running exhibition enriching the theme and showcasing the technologies in water sector for efficient use and management of water resources.

The India Water Week-2013 is targeted at International and National audience comprising of policy planners and technologists involved with water resources management in all key sectors of economy like Agriculture and Irrigation, Energy and Industry.

The exhibition conducted simultaneously with the International Conference on the same subject will provide the Small & Medium Enterprises an international platform & a world class exposure, to develop their skills & providing them the accurate knowledge to increase their profits & by teaching them the corrective measures to grow & adopting the new & advanced technology. Besides, identifying, encouraging the progress in the Water Industry and the allied ministries.