“Har Ghar Jal” will be a dream come true: Says, Mr. Makrand Appalwar, Founder & CMD, Emmbi Industries Ltd

Har Ghar Jal, will be a dream come true for the Indians, particularly the population which stays in rural economy. We welcome the Hon. Finance Minister’s Union Budget and its intent to ensure water security in the country. We are happy that the Government is giving priority to providing access to safe and adequate drinking water to all Indians. Water, water management, clean Rivers feature prominently in the Government's Vision for the Decade.

The Jal Jeevan Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country. This is an extension to the first-ever formation of Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which will administer and lay down guidelines for development of water resources in India. Water conservation is the need of the hour, when the whole country is grappling with scarcity of water.

Mumbai and adjoining regions have witnessed highest rainfall of the season, however the rest of the State of Maharashtra the water scarcity problem still persists. It is estimated by NITI Aayog that India has been facing the worst water crisis in its history. Over 60% of the country is vulnerable to drought and one-third of the country’s districts have faced more than 4 droughts in the past decade. There is a downward trend in water levels in at least 71 of 91 reservoirs across India according to data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC). The situation is particularly grim in the north-western region — in Gujarat and Maharashtra — and in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra’s situation is especially grim with deficiency in water reserves in its reservoirs at 68 per cent while Gujarat faced a shortage of 22 per cent.

We believe that proper methods for irrigation, percolation to increase ground water levels, end-to-end solutions to offer last mile connectivity from rivers to the farms etc should be given utmost priority which will avoid wastage of rain water, proper water management process will be in place and water can be saved for livelihood. The government should encourage water conservation on the lines of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, as saving water is saving life.

Will urge the government to form a PPP model for water conservation across the country in association with various state governments and also central government should offer subsidies’ to farmers who are embracing water conservation.