Tap water, then bottled water... Next?

The two-day Bangalore World Water Summit, which was inaugurated in the city on Wednesday, had policy-makers and researchers highlighting issues surrounding water security. Rural development minister Jagdish Shettar said: “We currently have about 300 schemes that cover 1,000 villages, but what we are doing is insufficient.”

He said the money spent on water supply is a “national economic burden.”“We are spending so much money — `1,000 crore — every year. But we want to ensure wards receive water. We have sent a proposal for grants worth `1,700 crore to the World Bank and the proposal is pending before the Centre,” he added. He also said that India should copy Israel’s model of using water economically.

“Now, 70% of water supply is used for agriculture. There should be better water management adopted here,” he said. Dr Glen T Daigger, president, International Water Association, spoke about the importance of using water in moderation.“Water should be looked at as a means to an end and not vice versa. We have enough water, but it needs better management. Water lubricates the economy. It is needed for the well-being of society and we need it to preserve the environment,” he said. On the sidelines of the event,Daigger said he supported the monetisation of water as long as it is priced correctly. Urban development secretary Dr Sudhir Krishna said the summit is an opportunity to put in place correct policies regarding water security. “Groundwater development should be the focus. Treatment of water is another important issue and 70% of water can easily be recycled today,” he said, adding that a clear policy should be formulated for the preservation ofwaterbodies as they are shrinking.