Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Madhya Pradesh is fully conscious about proper use of water.
After the year 2003, irrigation capacity has been increased by collecting water in the state, he said.
The irrigation potential in the state has increased from seven and a half lakh hectares to 42 lakh hectares.
We are committed to more and more efficient irrigation system with less water, he said.
For this, irrigation facility is being provided through pressure pipe instead of canal system, he said.
The aim is to save as much water as possible, he said.
Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing a seminar of water experts and intellectuals at Mantralaya on Madhya Pradesh State Water Policy-2022.
Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat, Professor Sachin Chaturvedi of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Analysis, Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources SN. Mishra, senior officers, water experts and social workers were present.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that pure drinking water should be easily available to the people of the state.
With this purpose, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented in every village. Various activities were conducted in the Jalabhishek campaign to raise the ground water level, he said.
As per the intention of Prime Minister Modi, a large number of Amrit Sarovars are being constructed in all the districts.
Chief Minister Chouhan has said that crop pattern is changing now. The system of taking the third crop in agriculture has begun.
He said this crop is often taken during summer, which is based on ground water.
Chouhan said due to this production is increasing but the ground water level is continuously on the decline. Rivers are also dying due to over-irrigated crops. It is necessary to consider these issues. The demand for water in industries is also ever-increasing.
It is necessary to make a strategy keeping in view the availability and demand of water in future, he said.
Drinking water is still a growing problem in many villages and settlements, he said.
He said ensuring the availability of drinking water in future is an increasing challenge.
For the revival of rivers, it is necessary to make an action plan and implement it by awakening the sensitivity of the general public, he said.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that there is a need to change the lifestyle based on over use of water in view of present circumstances.
Methods of recycling water for use, conducting activities by using less water will have to be adopted in everyday life. We have to leave the earth in such a condition for the coming generations, that the future generations can also lead a happy life on the earth.
We have to make water policy keeping these concerns in mind, he said.
The policy should be such that it can be implemented in coordination with the people, he said.
Chief Minister Chouhan was presented with Dr. Arvind Kumar’s book “India at 75 and Beyond” published by Center for Sustainable Goals.
The seminar covered cultural, economic and social importance of water, community participation, water literacy, traditional techniques and disciplines of society in today’s perspective, rain water harvesting, importance of Jal Praharis, cropping patterns and lifestyles, priority of water resources for various uses, Water Security Plant, Water Tracking App, biodiversity conservation, water purification and water quality, rejuvenation of ponds and rivers.
