Page 2 - Water Conservation

Vaishno Devi board wins 1st prize in National Water Awards for 3rd year

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has secured a hat-trick of winning the first prize in the 'National Water Awards' for the promotion of water conservation and proper management of water, officials said. The shrine board bagged the 'Best Institution for Campus Usage' award in the fourth National Water Awards, they said. An official said Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar conferred the National Water Awards 2023 during a ceremony organised at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Jal Shakti Ministry. A total of 41 winners, including the Vaishno Devi shrine board, were selected for the awards under 11 categories. The National Water Awards were instituted to recognise and encourage exemplary work and efforts made by states, districts, individuals and organisations across the country in attaining the vision of 'Jal Samridh Bharat'. The award was received by the shrine board's Chief Executive

Delhi's water crisis to be resolved within 2-3 years: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi's water crisis will be resolved within the next two-three years with the government taking steps to enhance the water supply capacity by up to 300 million gallons a day (MGD), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said. According to official estimates, around two crore residents of the capital need approximately 1,300 MGD of water for drinking and daily needs. But the Delhi Jal Board can supply only around 1,000 MGD, leaving many areas grappling with a shortage. Kejriwal said the DJB's water supply capacity has increased from 850 MGD in 2015 to 1,000 MGD now and that he has set an ambitious target to further enhance it to a range of 1,200-1,300 MGD within two to three years. Once this goal is achieved, Delhiites will no longer face water shortages, he added. To accomplish this, the government plans to install tubewells in areas with high water-tables, enabling the extraction of water on a large scale. Additionally, an innovative approach will be adopted to recharge groundwater b

62 newly discovered plants may help agricultural lands facing water crisis

A new study reveals 62 resilient plant species in India's western ghats that have high potential in agricultural and conservation applications

National campaign for conservation of biodiversity launched in Goa

The National Campaign for Updation and Verification of People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) was launched in Goa on Tuesday marking a significant step towards the documentation and preservation of India's rich biodiversity. The launch was organised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in association with the Goa State Biodiversity Board, National Biodiversity Authority and Goa government. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey emphasised the importance of maintaining the delicate balance in nature. "It is important to maintain the delicate balance present in nature. One must return to it as much as one takes away from it," he said. He further highlighted the need for people's participation in successfully in implementing the provisions of the Biodiversity Act 2002. "It is important to not only spread awareness, but also ensure people's participation to make the idea behind these

Inventor of blue jeans Levi Strauss & Co channels a new water-saving idea

As part of a wider water-saving effort, the San Francisco-based company, which invented blue jeans in 1873, has become an early pioneer of a method known drily as "contextual water targets"

Revival of traditional methods of water management need of hour: Prez

Stressing on the need for water conservation and management, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday called for revival of traditional methods along with using modern techniques for sustainable water supply. The president was addressing an event where she presented the 'Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023' and witnessed the launch of 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain-2023'. Water and sanitation hold a special place in the life of every citizen but these issues affect women the most, as generally, it is the responsibility of women to arrange drinking water for their homes in rural areas, she said. In villages, they had to walk long distances to get drinking water and arranging for drinking water not only took a lot of their time but also put their safety and health at risk, Murmu said. Usually, school and college going girls were also engaged in arranging water along with their elders, which hindered their studies, the president noted. To overcome these problems, the government has take

World inspired by India's efforts in water conservation: Shekhawat

India has emerged as a leading country with a holistic and comprehensive water resources management and the world, in particular the developing countries, is inspired by this and is seeking New Delhi's help in addressing such issues, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said. They (the world community) are amazed to see (the steps being taken by India in water conservation and resources management), Shekhawat, the Union Jal Shakti Minister, told PTI in an interview. The Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Jodhpur is here to attend the World Water Week event being held in person by the World Bank after a gap of three years and attended by more than 400 global experts on water-related issues. In his keynote address at the event, the minister presented some of the crucial steps taken by India in this field in the last few years. In a bilateral meeting, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources from Ghana, Cecilia Abnea Dapaah, sought assistance from India in addressing the challeng

Farmers should make most out of water conservation schemes: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the 'Prati Boond-Adhik Fasal' scheme started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought focus on increasing water-use efficiency in farming, adding that micro irrigation led to a 52-per cent increase in the state's fruit and vegetable yields. Khattar said various schemes are being run through the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA) for water conservation and its judicious and economical use, according to a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started the 'Prati Boond-Adhik Fasal' scheme, Khattar said, and added, "The focus is on increasing water-use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation -- that is drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. "Micro-irrigation systems are invaluable for farming. With this, there is a considerable increase in the area irrigated from the same source of water." The government is providing assistance at 70 per cent to individual applicants and 85 per cent to .

Over 8.1 mn tap connections provided in rural households by UP government

The Uttar Pradesh government has provided tap water connections to more than 81 lakh rural households in the state including over 8.30 lakh in Bundelkhand and around 3.50 lakh in Vindhya regions under the Jal Jeevan Mission, according to official data. The latest data sourced from the UP Jal Shakti Ministry showed that the state ranks fourth in the country in terms of providing functional household tap connections (FHTC) under the Jal Jeevan Mission - Har Ghar Jal initiative of the Centre. According to the data, as on February 21, Bihar tops among states having provided 1.59 crore tap water connections, whereas Maharashtra is second with 1.07 crore and Gujarat comes third with 91 lakh connections to rural households. The statistics showed that tap water connections have been provided to altogether 81,87,394 rural households in UP to date. More than 8.30 lakh FHTCs have been provided in Bundelkhand region of the state. This includes tap connections to 96,553 families in Mahoba, 1.41

Only 50% rural families have tapped drinking water under Jal Jeevan Mission

The ministry on its part has said that several laggard states have indicated to it during review meetings that they are facing many bottlenecks while implementing the scheme

J'khand govt launches water conservation scheme with over Rs 467 cr outlay

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to provide benefits to farmers in the state that experienced drought last year

UNGA Prez Csaba Korosi to visit India this month, meet leaders, scientists

Korosi has a special interest in development, a key element of his agenda as Head of the General Assembly, and particularly in the water conservation element of it

Jal Jeevan Mission: Here're the top five best and worst performers

Only 17% of rural households had tap water connections on August 15, 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shakti informed Parliament on July 28 this year

Biodiversity: India's conservation priorities are misplaced, say experts

The 'Living Planet Report 2020' by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) identified land and sea use change and overexploitation of resources as the key drivers of biodiversity loss across the globe

PM leads water conservation projects; aims tap connection to villages

Although India has 18 per cent of the world's population, it only possesses 4 per cent of the world's renewable water resources

PM in 'Mann ki Baat' says water conservation social, spiritual duty of all

PM Modi while quoting from ancient scriptures said water conservation is a social and spiritual duty of every person.

Rising temperatures has serious implications for water security: CSE

Speaking on the occasion of World Water Day, CSE Director General Sunita Narain said climate mitigation has to be about water and its management

Massive groundwater contamination in 31 districts of Bihar: Economic Survey

The consumption of contaminated water causes skin, liver, kidney and other water-borne diseases.

Tiger reserves important for tigers as well as water security: Minister

The tiger reserves are not just for tigers, but they are far more vital as more than 35 rivers originate from these areas which are crucial for water security, Union Environment Minister said

Best of BS Opinion: Beyond the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, vaccine supply, and more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day