Water conservation need to be given priority

Vijayawada: As per the United Nations report about 21 lakh senior citizens and 16 lakh children die every year due to increasing global warming, pollution and water scarcity, said Dr Samaram. He said that availability of drinking water was drastically decreasing globally and there was a need to safeguard the available water resources.

He was addressing a gathering here on Thursday on ‘Neeti Pradhanyatha – Manava Manugada’ to mark the World Water Day organised at Gora Science Centre here on Thursday.

He said water is the main source of human survival and one should use water carefully. He further stated that drinking water availability has been coming down by 34 per cent every year.

Gora Science Centre director Niyantha said that migration from villages to cities was increasing day by day which was leading to water scarcity. Eighty per cent water is being diverted to agriculture to feed the increasing urban population, he added.

He said that everyone should be a part of rain water harvesting programme. He said water scarcity problem should be addressed in time. "People and local governments should strive to prevent water pollution," he said.

More than 300 students and young people participated in the drawing competitions, Dr Vijayam, Director of Atheist Centre, said and added that the prizes will be distributed to the winners on March 26.