India does not have shortage of water but the management of water is not adequate, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said here Monday.
The Union water minister who also handles the Road and Transport portfolio made the comments at the National Water Awards ceremony for 2018.
"India does not have shortage of water but the management of water is not adequate. The need to institute national-level water awards spanning across sectors was strongly felt to encourage people to play their respective roles in conservation of water," Gadkari said.
Listing some of the steps which have been taken for effective management of water in the country, the minister said 400 MLD water from Okhla barrage will be treated and used for Delhi through Wazirabad barrage.
"Many projects have been completed under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMSKY). Preference is being given to piped irrigation instead of canal irrigation to conserve water. Existing canals are also being concretised to avoid wastage of water," he said.
On the Clean Ganga Mission, Gadkari said during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, the water was both 'Nirmal' and 'Aviral'