Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: “Goa gets 160 inches of rainfall every year in all talukas, but within no time, it flows into nullah and then to the Arabian sea, but this is not affordable today for us as we face a shortage of water for drinking, Industries and other purposes,” said Water Resources Minister Subash Shirodkar.
He urged the people not to waste their precious water in daily use but make maximum effort to save water.
Stating that Jalshakthi Mission 2019 was started by PM Narendra Modi, he urged the students, farmers, and people to catch and conserve the rainwater where it falls.
“Goa needs a Revolutionary movement to conserve rainwater harvesting to meet the requirement of the future generation,” said Water Resource Minister Subash Shirodkar.
He spoke at Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at the launching of Jal Shakti Abhiyaan catch the rain -2022 where it falls, when it falls.
On occasion, present on the dais were Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, ZP Naryan Kamath, Suraj Naik, and WRD Officials Badami. The Rajiv Kala Mandir Hall was full with presence of students, farmers, school teachers, Panchmembers, Government officials and people from various areas.
Subash Shirodkar said, “We need to participate students from fifth to twelfth at young age encouraging them to save the rainwater where it falls, i.e. rooftop, surrounding area, forest, bagayats and hills so that this water outflow throughout the year and meet our requirement. He said the Public must participate in this movement.
“We need to encourage students to plant trees for their kitchen gardens. They should be capable of identifying Vegetable seeds and cultivating them in the kitchen garden. At the same time, encourage them to dig four pits near the house premises for rainwater harvesting and see how it drains into the soil,” he said.
He also stressed protecting the wildlife, which is depend upon us and an essential part of the ecosystem.
On occasion, financial Sanction letters to dig 1000 pits in were handed over to various NGOs. He said WRD targets 15000 pits all over Goa. “Each Panchayat will dig 1000 pits in the near future. The WRD will help farmers to construct tanks with a storage capacity of 1 lakh litre of water by providing subsidies. For Water harvesting from the roof, WRD Scheme supports a minimum of Rs 50,000. North 10 and south 10. June and July. Borewell but no water,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik said in future; there would be a fight in the world for water. In Goa, there is plenty of rainfall, and its water flows into the sea without any effort to conserve it.
“We need to think of our future generations. Wherever it rain, we should conserve water and send it to parts where there is a shortage in country. Water will be most precious in future than fuel. We can even export the conserved water to places with a need, including Arab Countries,” he said.
