WB government observes Save Water Day

'Save Water Day' was observed by the West Bengal government Friday and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participated in a march in the city Friday to raise awareness on conservation.

She urged the people to take "precautionary measures" to save the natural resource as water scarcity has become a major issue in the world.

Emphasising on conservation of water, she said

"With water scarcity becoming a major issue in many places in the world we believe in taking precautionary measures to save water resources".

She also stressed on conservation of rain water and said her government would observe July 12 as 'Save Water Day' in every year.

 

Accompanied by her cabinet colleagues, government officials, intellectuals including writers, actors and directors of Bengali film and theatre industry and sports personalities, Banerjee walked from Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral home of Rabindra Nath Tagore in north Kolkata, to the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, a distance of around 4 km.

Sporting blue-coloured sashes with the massage "Save Water, Save Life", the participants also waved placards carrying the message of water conservation.

Banerjee said that the Trinamool Congress government had dug nearly 1.5 lakh ponds in five years till 2016 in the state as against the 50,000 the party had promised in its poll manifesto in 2011.

"People are often assured of many things by the government and also individuals, but many promises are not met. I am used to keep promises," Banerjee said.

The chief minister said about three lakh water bodies have been dug so far by the state government under the water conservation programme of 'Jal dharo Jal bharo' (Collect water, store water).

Many check dams have been constructed and irrigation canals have been rejuvenated to prevent floods and provide water during the period of scarcity, she said.

The state government would observe a 'Student Day' to disseminate the message of conservoing water in every sphere of the society, Banerjee added.