Union water resources minister Salman Khurshid on Monday emphasised the need for a bank to keep funds for relief works during natural calamities like floods.
"We have to re-organise our economic model. For instance, instead of finding money in ad hoc way, we can develop a flood-relief bank to help people affected by flood," Khurshid said addressing a workshop on water resource management here.
Khurshid also stressed the need for a data bank of all kind of water bodies.
"There are water bodies in the country which are either decaying, destroyed, encroached or damaged. There should be a data bank of such water bodies which could be restored or revived," he said.
He also underscored the need for citizens' cooperation in water management.
"People should feel a sense of ownership on the water resources. It gives rich dividends," he said, emphasising the need for proper recharge of ground water and use of rain water.
On the threats posed by earthquake to proposed big dams in the region, he said, "We will not do anything that endangers the common man."