The Narendra Modi government on Monday kicked off a water conservation scheme that would focus on renovation of water bodies, regulating industrial consumption, harvesting rainwater and reuse of wastewater. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which aims to provide piped water to every household within the next five years. The strategy includes revival of traditional water bodies, reuse of wastewater without faecal contamination after treatment in urban areas and rainwater harvesting. In 2017, the Centre had estimated the cost of providing piped water to each of the country’s 25 crore families at Rs 6 lakh crore. Nearly two-thirds of households are yet to get piped water.

Source: The Telegraph July 01, 2019 23:48 UTC