Prez for reducing water footprint, urges farmers to consider it

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday emphasised need to reduce water footprint and said that farmers, corporate leaders and government bodies need to actively consider it. water footprint is amount of water consumed to produce goods and services and cultivation of crops. Inaugurating 6th India Water Week, Kovind said re has been negligence in preserving water and steps must be taken to ensure that future generations get clean drinking water. 

"We often talk of reducing our carbon footprint. It is time we talk about reducing our water footprint. Our farmers, corporate leaders and government bodies need to actively consider water footprint of different crops and industries. We need to encour agricultural and industrial practise that has least water footprint," President said.

READ: Pak Refuses Air To President Ram Nath Kovind For Foreign Visits

Kovind said Namami Gange project entails numerous projects to ensure continuous and unpolluted flow of Ganga. He stressed that making Ganga and or rivers clean cant be a mission of government alone and has to be a collective endeavour. In this context, he said idols of deities immersed in rivers should be made from environment-friendly materials to keep water bodies clean and ensure safety of marine life. Water issues are too multi-faceted and complex to be solved by only government or just one nation, Kovind said.

"All nations and ir water communities have to come toger to help build a water sustainable future for all," President said.

ting that managing and mapping groundwater resources is also an important aspect of water governance, Kovind said widespread use of boring machines has led to unregulated and excessive exploitation of groundwater 

"We have to value our groundwater and be responsible. We have to ensure that our precious rainwater does t get wasted. We need to store and capture our rainwater by utilising our existing reservoirs, dams, or water bodies and by adopting water harvesting measures in our homes and neighbourhoods," Kovind said.

He also lauded government for Jal Jeevan Mission that enviss providing clean drinking water to all households in country.

READ: President Ram Nath Kovind Addresses Indian Community In Iceland