With rampant water scarcity in the spotlight, whether in urban centres like Chennai or as drought in parts of central India, the Centre rolled out the Jal Shakti Abhiyan on Monday as a jan andolan or people’s movement on water conservation. However, there is no additional funding or specific targets for the campaign to achieve, according to Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Instead, the campaign is meant to “bring sensitivity on the subject, and give focussed approach,” he told journalists. Climate change has also made the country more vulnerable to water scarcity, said Mr. Shekhawat, adding that rainwater harvesting capacity is only 8%. Pressed for specific figures on funding and targets, Mr. Shekhawat said, “More than numbers, what is required is the number of working hands and commitment of people…Only if it’s a people’s movement, can it be successful.

Source: The Hindu July 01, 2019 16:30 UTC