India can learn water management from Israel: Minister
May 9th, 2012 - 5:24 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 9 (IANS) The availability of per capita water resources is declining steadily in India which has a lot to learn from Israel in the field of water management technology, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath said here Wednesday.
“Despite being located in one of the most arid places in the world, Israel is independent in terms of water resources and has demonstrated the way to manage water resources. India has a lot to earn from Israel in this sector,” Nath said at an Indo-Israel Water Management Seminar.
Appreciating the water technology of Israel, the minister said: “The food output in Israel has increased by 9 percent over the past 16 years, using same amount of water resources available 16 years ago.”
Nath expressed concern over the growing need for water in the future in view of the rapid pace of urbanisation in the country.
“Urban water supply has to be managed as a service due to rapid urbanisation in India. Urbanisation is a huge challenge which has lead to a rapid growth of cities in India. This is evident from the fact that in 2001 we had 560 cities and in 2016 we will have 8,000 towns,” Nath said at the seminar where Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz was also present.
He stressed the need for the regulation of ground water supply.
“Since problems related to water collection and treatment have compounded, we need to take a cue from Israel which is no.1 in the field of recycling water,” he added.
A delegation of experts from Israel’s national water company Mekorot was also present at the seminar.
- Bihar to get Indo-Israel agriculture centres - Aug 30, 2012
- PPP model necessary to develop urban infrastructure: Kamal Nath - Sep 17, 2012
- Israel keen to boost agricultural links with Bengal: Envoy - Jun 18, 2012
- Israel's focus on IT, biotech in trade with India - Sep 13, 2011
- India-Israel trade can go up to $15 bn, says envoy - Jun 20, 2012
- Indo-Israel vegetable centre set up in Haryana - Jan 13, 2011
- A university to manage a rapidly urbanising India - Jul 03, 2011
- Invest in Indian infrastructure: Kamal Nath to Europe - Oct 13, 2011
- Rapid urbanisation a challenge: Kamal Nath - Jan 11, 2012
- Urban renewal mission's allocation to rise - Jul 03, 2012
- Real estate regulatory bill to address consumers' concern: Kamal Nath - Nov 09, 2011
- 95 million Indians will be living in urban slums by 2012 - Oct 28, 2010
- Urban infrastructure report submitted to Kamal Nath - Mar 07, 2011
- Afghanistan seeks Indian help in water infrastructure - Apr 24, 2012
- China projects won't affect Brahmaputra water flow: Minister - Jul 05, 2010
Tags: alon, development minister, food output, ground water supply, israeli ambassador, kamal nath, management seminar, management technology, mekorot, national water, places in the world, rapid pace, rapid urbanisation, urban water supply, urbanisation in india, water collection, water company, water management, water resources, water technology