Now,an institute aimed at solving country’s water issues

Dhruv M Sawhney,Chairman and Managing Director of Triveni Engineers and Industries Limited,said: “The need of the hour is to galvanise a national movement for waste water management and water conservation. There are four focus areas — municipal,domestic,industrial and agricultural. We plan to devise certification courses that will not only

create awareness in various sectors but also ensure direct

and indirect employment for 10,000 people.”

The CII has also come up with ‘blue’ rating for companies,based on performance with regard to water conservation and management measures. “We intend to introduce,with support from the government,a performance rating system for firms based on water-management practices,” Sawhney said.

Bansal called upon the institute to focus on agriculture,which accounts for 85 per cent of the total water use in the country. He said the institute should make farmers ensure that they adopt practices that will lessen use of water without compromising the yield.

“The problem of diminishing per capita availability of water can’t be viewed as a demand-supply problem.

Holistic planning and water management is the need of the hour,and I believe the water institute can set a new benchmark,so that the industry can play a salutary role in policy formation,” Bansal said.