TOI River Dialogues: Uneven distribution, not shortage of water, is a concern in India, say experts
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Lucknow: Collecting rainwater from where it drops and stopping wastewater from where it is generated should be the mantra for the revival and conservation of rivers.
The idea was shared by Prof Vinod Tare from IIT Kanpur at the TOI River Dialogues held on Monday.
Deliberating on revitalising rivers during a panel discussion, Tare, founding head of cGanga, Environmental Engineering & Management Programme at IIT Kanpur, said, "There is no shortage of water in our country. The concern is its uneven distribution. For 30 days, we have water, and for 330 days, we have sewage and wastewater around us. We need to convert this into business so that our rivers keep flowing."
Speaking on the theme, 'Leveraging
Public-Private Partnerships
for Clean Rivers Innovation, Investment, and Sustainable Impact,' Head of Business Development and MA, Adani Group, Kundan Kishore said, "PPP is just an extension of public funding. Currently, the govt spends entirely on funds and developing infrastructural projects. Fortunately, in India, PPP has reached quite a mature state, and that has been validated by the interest of domestic investors and foreign investors in India."
Seeking proper structuring of the PPP document, Kishore added, "For a successful PPP, we need the right project implementation framework and the correct conceptualisation, keeping in mind the kind of leverage the govt is trying to build in through an association with a private partner or investor."
He added, "What we need is a sizable investment chunk and a longer period to give returns. A project of Rs 500 crore or Rs 1000 crore will help a private investor leverage its efficiency in a better way."
Underscoring the importance of
water management
programmes, particularly water literacy, Prof Pritam Ranjan from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, said, "It's time that educational institutes bring in water management programmes in their curriculum. At IIM Indore, we have a unique rural immersion programme where students visit villages across India to help villagers live a better life. Such programmes help in creating awareness of the usage and reusage of water. Public participation is the key to conserving water."
Drawing attention to the growing farmer suicides in Maharashtra, CEO of Naam Foundation, Ganesh Thorat, said, "This is the biggest crisis and disaster when it comes to water. For over a decade, we focused on water conservation and rural development in Maharashtra, and we realised that people connect stronger at places where there are issues related to water. We need to spread awareness on the rejuvenation of rivers through desilting and excavation to enhance storage capacity and recharge groundwater tables."
Tare said, "Decentralising sewage treatment will aid in water conservation. Every city that sees rainfall should have 100-200 STPs. Public and private players both need to value water to transform rivers. Valuation doesn't refer to pricing, but there is no harm in bringing it into account books."
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