Warangal: Use water resources judiciously: Rajendra Singh

Warangal: Students have that power to bring in change, Rajendra Singh, renowned water conservationist, said, referring to the importance of curbing misuse of water resources. Speaking at a programme on 'Water Literacy, River Rights and Responsibilities' organised by the Kakatiya University here on Wednesday, Singh, who is also known as Waterman of India, expressed concern over the depleting water resources.

"Depleting water resources will also have adverse impact on people's lives. It forces people to migrate to other places," Singh said. Even though the misuse of water resources had started some 150 years ago, it reached to threatening proportions from 1990s, he added.

He said that according to 2019 statistics, as many as 365 districts spread across 17 States in the country have been facing acute water problem and drought. The groundwater levels are going down alarmingly due to unrestrained exploitation of water resources, he said, pointing to the importance of keeping a tab on the malady.

"It's possible to improve groundwater level by adopting traditional methods. It was proved in Rajasthan. Nearly 17 lakh people who migrated to other places in search of livelihood came back to their natives places and now they are successfully cultivating their lands. He said that the fate of rural India is hinges on water availability and infrastructure.

There is no death for a river as long as it flows unhindered, Singh said, stating that Jal Saksharta is the only of protecting the planet earth from global warming. "Felling of trees, rampant mining and deforestation have become a cause of worry for the mankind," he said.

Referring to the Kaleshwaram and Devadula lift Irrigation projects, Singh through a caution to the government to make optimum use of water resources. As the lift irrigations are expensive, government need to focus on utilising the water in a judicious way, he added.

KU Registrar Prof K Purushotham, Telangana State Water Management Resource organiser Shyam Sundar Reddy, Prof T Ramesh, Prof K Seetharama Rao, Prof K David, Dr Mallikarjun Reddy and scores of students were among others present.

It may be mentioned here Rajendra Singh, who runs Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS), an NGO founded in 1975, had won prestigious awards - Magsaysay in 2001 and Stockholm Water Prize in 2015, for his contribution to water conservation.