HT Correspondent
Varanasi, June 6
“THE water level of rivers is going down considerably due to unplanned extraction of drinking water, unprecedented population growth, rapid industrialization and a continuous demand for freshwater.”
These views were expressed by eminent scholars in a workshop on ‘Severe crisis of drinking water in mega cities situated on the banks of river Ganga: Causes and remedial measures’. The seminar was organised at the Civil Engineering Department, Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University to mark the festival of Ganga Dusshera and 20th annual day of BHU’s Ganga Laboratory here on Tuesday.
Rector of BHU, Prof S Lele said increasing population coupled with rapid industrialization were creating problems of drinking water. “The problem of drinking water should be considered in a broader perspective and proper measures are required to counter this problem at a global level,” he said. He added public awareness was required for rainwater harvesting and recycling of wastewater to mitigate this problem.
Director of IT-BHU, Prof SN Upadhyay said World Environment Day celebrations and other such programmes were now more or less a ritual and a lot of groundwork was required to address the problem of drinking water in particular and other environment related issues in general.
He stressed the need for social commitment to check rising pollution in the Ganga. Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Technology (IT-BHU), Prof JN Sinha cited an international report and said around 33 per cent population of the entire world would face severe drinking water crisis by the 2020 to 2025.
Eminent river scientist and in charge of the Ganga Laboratory, Prof UK Choudhary expressed concern over the poor state of the Ganga and called upon a cross-section of society to come forward for conservation of the river. “There is an urgent need to ascertain the quantity and method of water extraction through the Ganga so that it does not loose its identity,” he said.
Head of Civil Engineering Department, Prof RK Agrawal delivered the welcome address whereas organising secretary Dr Devendra Mohan conducted the programme and proposed a vote of thanks.