Tap Water To Every Household By 2024, Says Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister Of Jal Shakti
"Our main agenda is to provide tap water to all households by 2024," says Gajendra Singh Shikhawat, the newly elected Union Minister of Jal Shakti, a newly conglomerated Ministry including Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, during a major press meet of the Ministry. The event was primarily on the agenda on water conservation, resource management and drinking water. With reference to the PM Narendra Modi's will on formation of a holistic and a central body to address all the water related issues along with the setting up of an integrated system, the meet comprised of all the state ministers from all over the country expressing their issues and concerns over water. The event is considered to be one of a kind interaction at the official level which had water ministers from all the states of the country. The new ministry would work on all aspects of water including demand, supply, sanitation etc. which were addressed differently earlier.
Shekhawat informs that the main agenda of the ministry is 'Nal se Jal' under which tap water will be provided to all the households by 2024. Currently, the status of tapped water in the country is 18% which has to be taken up to 100%. He also informed, "in the coming years there will be a deficit of 43% between water availability and required water. To address this issue, we have to come together with same approach and vision."
While addressing the media queries, Shekhawat said that water scarcity in dams is media hyped and there is enough water in the dams. It is a reference to a drought warning given to states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Shekhawat informs that all the state ministers have showed equal concerns and over the water problems and are willing to work together towards the vision. He emphasised on the need of 'Jan Jagran' regarding rational use of water.
Water conservation, source sustainability, recharge of water and rainwater harvesting are the key areas of work, informed Shikhawat. He further added "Community interaction will be involved through Gram Panchayats leadership role. However, in the spirit of cooperative federalism, all the areas will be checked on the basis of performance."
When asked about the any plans regarding current state of water crisis in the country, Shekhawat informed, 'water scarcity is not a problem that can be solved immediately however, we have asked all the states to come forward in terms of their requirements and we shall support them in whatever way we can.'
