"Water bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds, dams, streams should be protected from encroachment, pollution and exploitation. Enactment of Water Security Act will help to achieve that," Singh, popularly known as 'water man', said about the drought situation in Maharashtra at a function organised by Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh here.
The Act should encompass identification, demarcation, notification of water bodies, Singh, who is a recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award and Stockholm Water Prize, said.
The need of the hour is to work on widening and deepening of water streams and revival of lakes and dams, Singh said, adding that there is also a need is to have a river revival policy.
"I have written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about it. Maharashtra rivers have dried or vanished. Godavari river is polluted and I have filed a PIL to cancel the Kumbh Mela if steps are not taken to revive and clean the rivers," he said.
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He said that schemes like Jalyukt Shivar is good to make the state "drought-free" but the government must ensure that contractors don't come (involve in processes).
Singh also spoke against the 'Smart Cities' concept, saying there is threat to water, forest, land and the development model is to convert villages into cities and not make villages prosperous.
Maharashtra is the 'Number 1' urbanised state, he said, adding that the state will progress only if its villages prosper.