Agra: Magsaysay Award winner, India’s Jalpurush Rajendra Singh, presiding over a Jal Panchayat said that water management was a collective responsibility, not just that of the government. He urged citizens to actively participate in water management efforts and to raise awareness among those indifferent to their water rights, especially through campaigns in educational institutions.
The Panchayat's leadership, including Shashi Shiromani, Brigadier Vinod Dutta, Dr Madhu Bhardwaj, Rajiv Khandelwal, and Anil Sharma, reviewed several critical recommendations based on complaints about Agra's water issues. These recommendations will guide the Civil Society of Agra in coordinating and preparing an action plan.
Participants agreed that Agra was experiencing severe water scarcity, with water availability far below the demand for both drinking and irrigation, outside of the monsoon season. The depletion of the groundwater system was evident, as hand pumps and submersible pumps were proving increasingly ineffective. Despite a Central Water Commission report highlighting this issue, the irrigation department has not taken substantial action.
The Yamuna River, suffering from poor management at the Gokul Barrage, and other district rivers like Utangan, Khari, and Terah Mori are critical points of concern. The Rajasthan Irrigation Department's neglect of the Khanua Dam exacerbates the problem, impacting water availability for Agra.
Green activist Rajiv Saxena said “It is very painful that there is very little water in the Yamuna river, Gokul Barrage is suffering from bad management. At the same time, the flow of water from Rajasthan to Utangan, Khari, and Terah Mori dams from other major rivers of the district has been stopped. The head of the Utangan River, 'Khanua Dam', which was once known as Baban Mori Dam, has been almost rejected by the Rajasthan Irrigation Department. Similarly, the Yamuna river has been stopped at the Gokul Barrage in the months other than the monsoon season. As a result, there is a severe shortage of drinking water and irrigation water in Agra.”
The Panchayat criticized the Uttar Pradesh government's lack of response to the cessation of water flow from Rajasthan. It called for official meetings between UP and Rajasthan irrigation departments to secure Agra's rightful share of water.
Rajendra Singh stressed that the Jal Panchayat was a Satyagraha, not just a campaign, aimed at addressing Agra's water issues. He highlighted the need for effective water conservation strategies during the monsoon season and questioned the success of current government-funded structures.
The Panchayat decided to organize future Paani Panchayats on a larger scale and ensure strong participation in the National Panchayat in Delhi on October 2.
Anil Sharma, leading the Panchayat, shared experiences from Alwar and ongoing programs in Bhikampura Alwar on the 50th anniversary of Tarun Bharat Sangh. The Panchayat concluded with a Jan Jagran Yatra, led by Rajendra Singh, from Sheroes Hangout Cafe, raising awareness with the slogan "Neer, Nari Nadi - Narayan, Narayan, Narayan, Narayan."
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