Palghar: Water usage distribution for irrigation, drinking and industries should be in the 75:15:10 ratio, said water activist and author Pradeep Purandare on Saturday in Palghar. Purandare was speaking at an event to mark the fourth death anniversary of socialist leader and former MLA Navnitbhai Shah. The lecture was organised by the eponymous Navnitbhai Shah Parivartan Trust.
Balancing water usage
Purandare is a water management activist and was earlier a professor at Aurangabad’s Water and Land Management Institute. He was also part of the government committee to suggest measures to prevent floods in Maharashtra but quit it in 2020 when his suggestions were not included.
On Saturday, Purandare said that the dispassionate approach shown by the irrigation sector towards water usage has led to encroachment of water quota by the potable and industrial sectors. “Urbanisation in the country is inevitable and structural changes at the policy level are urgently required,” he said.
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The distribution of water originating from reservoirs should be done taking into consideration the engineering and socio-economic factors, he said. Purandare added that the efficient use of water is necessary for conservation for future generations.
In his address, he emphasised the use of green technology in the industry, performing water audits and using treated water to conserve groundwater. He also addressed local water issues faced by the Palghar district.
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