The high-profile India Water Week being organised by the ministry of water resources (MWR) between April 8 and April 12 wants all stakeholders to be present for this important meet being held in Vigyan Bhavan.
The water resources ministry has asked stakeholders involved in the water sector, including “farmers, women, tribals, fisherfolk or even critical voices from civil society”, to be present for the brain-storming sessions.
But they have slapped a fee of `8,000 per participant, prohibitively high for “tribals and fisherfolk” to be able to make their voices heard. Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and People said, “The consultation is happening at government expense at a time when crores of Indians have no water. And yet the ministry has deliberately excluded them from participating in a meet which is dominated by government officers and private players.” The thrust of the India Water Week is on efficient water management but most of the seminars and panel discussion are focusing on the construction of larger dams at a time when six leading states in the country, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Meghalaya, are facing drought.
Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan questioned this continuous obsession to construct more dams at a time when the entire water policy of the country needs to be reevaluated.
“One third of India’s dams are located in Maharashtra and yet it is suffering its worst drought in 40 years.”
The situation has turned alarming in Gujarat.