Optimum utilisation, conservation of water needed

Visakhapatnam: Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Professor VSRK Prasad emphasisedon the need for integration of nature with human beings and their activities for a healthy eco system. The main objective is to impart education on the judicious or optimum utilisation and conservation of water, he added. 

Participating in an event in connection with the World Water Day at the Andhra University here on Monday, Prof Prasad said that there were around 2.1 billion people who were unable to get purified drinking water at home,which led to a deterioration in their health.  

Among the Millennium Development Goals on Sustainable Development, Goal 6 states that to ensure that everyone has access to safe water by the year 2030, air pollution should be reduced and natural environment should be protected.Nature provides solutions to combat floods, droughts and pollution and these should be explored, he added.

The theme of this year World Water Day was "Nature for Water: Explorations on how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century". Country Director at Water For People, New Delhi, Meena Narula, in her speech, stressed on the need for effective water management through natural solutions for the sustainable development. She made it clear that the stakeholder participation is for the success of the water and sanitation programs quoting some case studies form their activities.

Vice-Chancellor of Dr. BR Ambedkar University, Srikakulam, K Ramjeeurged educationists and university administrators to participate actively in social developmental activities. He stressed on the importance of water and its impact quoting the Uddanam challenge of Srikakulam district.

Principal, A.U. College of Engineering, Andhra University PS Avadhani, brought the traditional practices and the importance of water in the system for survival.