An Appeal to the Nation by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee On Water Conservation

Water sustains life. It is now our duty to sustain all sources of water

Let us make water conservation a National Mission

Let us collectively address the problem of water shortage, which is growing intocrisis proportions

Conserve every drop of water

For solving the problem effectively, we need effective partnership between

• Every household, housing society, colony, Panchayats and municipal body to:
  - Save water, harvest rainwater, optimize use to water through recycling.
  
  
• Every farmer, farmers' cooperatives, Panchayats and District Administrations in water-scarce area to:
  - Take up conservation measures - construction of bunds, check-dams; desilting of ponds and wells, and repairs of canals.
  - Adopt drip, sprinkler and other water-saving irrigation techniques.
  - Avail benefits of Union Government schemes - Swajaldhara, Hariyali and similar schemes of State Governments.
  
  
• All industrial units, hotels, commercial establishments, Government offices:
  - To conduct water audit to make significant and targeted saving of water
  
  
• Take measures to cleans up our polluted rivers, lakes and ponds.
• Scientists to undertake development of low-cost water technologies as a major challenge.

Activities underway:

Mass awareness programme launched through:

• Media Campaign on Water Conservation.
  
• Public exhibits, Puppet Shows, Traditional media, Street Theatres , Jal Yatras on the need for water conservation.
  
• Special episode on "Water" through Doordarshan titled 'Bhumi' on a weekly basis.
• Quiz and Science Shows, Water Theme marches.
  
• Water and Environment Awareness Programme through:
  
  - The National Green Corps (through 50,000 schools).
  - Regional Resource Agencies of Ministry of Environment & Forests.
  - State Councils of Science and Technology.
  - Central Water Commission.
  - Central Ground Water Board.

Seminars and workshops:

• Seminars on "Water Conservation - Role of Civil Society".
  
• Water Management and Artificial Recharge Training Programmes by Central Ground Water Board for Engineers, Architects, Geologists, Government Officials, Panchayat Samitis, and Water Users' Associations.
  
• National Seminar on "Water Conservation in Semi-Arid Zones", at Udaipur,
  
• National Workshop on Drinking Water and Sanitation in collaboration with Global Rain Water Harvesting Collective.
  
• Thematic seminar in six regions on National River Conservation Programme.
  
• Artificial recharge of ground water and roof-top rainwater harvesting training programmes at heritage sites.

Water Harvesting/Conservation Schemes:

• Implementation of Swajaldhara programme.
  
• Watershed development programmes by Panchayati Raj Institutions under Hariyali programme.
  
• Construction of water harvesting structures and toilets in schools around the country.
  
• Revival of traditional water systems across the nation.
  
• River-bed and bathing ghats cleaning and slum cleaning in 18 States.
• Water Quality Audit in at least four large States.

OBSERVE JULY AND AUGUST AS 'WATER MONTHS'
ORGANISE MASS-AWARENESS ACTIVITIES LIKE SEMINARS,
WORKSHOPS AND SHRAMDAANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IN
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND WORK PLACES