'Water Conservation And Sewage Disposal Essential Issues'

BW Online Bureau Aug 18, 2017

Water conversation and sewage disposal are essential issues which need to be addressed for Gurugram's proper growth, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh said here.

"Water conversation and sewage disposal are essential issues which need to be addressed for Gurugram's proper growth. These have become an important concern for our future generation," the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs said addressing a workshop here last evening.

"Presently, we are sitting on a time bomb as water table is depleting fast," Singh, who was the chief guest at the function said, stressing the need for water conservation.

In an attempt to lay the future roadmap for water security, diverse stakeholders came together on a common platform.

The workshop titled 'Transforming the Najafgarh Basin' was held under the aegis of DLF Foundation, India Water Partnership, a non-profit organization with a goal of promoting integrated water resources management, and INTACH, an official release said today.

The workshop aimed to bring multiple stakeholders at a common platform to identify the gaps and challenges in rehabilitation of Najafgarh basin and devise strategies to address the crisis in a holistic and sustainable manner, it said.

Rao Inderjit said said that government is doing its part and DLF Foundation is also contributing its bit "but the government's efforts alone are not enough and the private sector should also contribute under Corporate Social Responsibility".

"Everybody should chip in for solving this problem. More initiatives need to be taken up in future to engage people's participation and make the city a more livable place," Singh, who is BJP MP from Gurugram, said.

Earlier, Commissioner Municipal Corporation (MCG) Gurugram, V Umashankar said that the MCG has taken up rejuvenation of water bodies in a phased manner.

"First, ponds of Basai, Sukhrali, Jahajgarh and Samaspur have been taken and the MCG is trying to make it community's space so that it is taken care of afterwards also," he said.

Umashankar said that waste should be treated at source itself rather than carrying to farther places for treating purpose.

"So, small STPs will be set up in Sukhrali in which the sewage water will be treated and thrown into the pond," he said.

The commissioner said that the MCG has also identified 38 points where sewage was thrown into open drains.

"We will try to curb this practice," he said.

Gurugram Divisional Commissioner D Suresh on need for proper management of water supply.

He was of the view that the private sector should be encouraged to invest in the field of water distribution and sewage disposal as massive investment is required to meet the global standards.

"We need to blend government accountability with private sector initiatives and efficiency," Suresh added.

Delhi Jal Board CEO, Keshav Chandra said, "urban planning is of utmost importance to avoid sewage being drained in water bodies. The need of the hour is to look at watershed management. Traditional village ponds should be taken care of and encroachments should be removed over there. After cleaning of the water bodies it is important to create recreational value of the water body."