Minister for Public Health Engineering Sukhdev Panse said that Madhya Pradesh would be the first state of the country, which is taking an initiative to enact ‘Right to Water’.

Several significant rights came into existence in the country earlier but the law which was supposed to be made first in the country is now taking shape as per the concept of the Chief Minister Kamal Nath. ‘Right to Water’ is the first link of this step.

Panse was addressing the workshop on the subject ‘Right to Water’ here today. He stated that after contemplating on suggestions received from the subject-experts, educationists and law experts in the workshop, a law would be enacted by ensuring people’s participation in it.

Panse informed that this workshop is utmost relevant in the present context. Deliberations on new techniques of augmentation of underground water reserves will take place. He mentioned that the ‘Right to Water’ will not be a law by the government only but it will have people’s participation too. The law will be enacted with the participation of people. Panse urged them to contemplate on new methods for water conservation and to enhance ground water reserves.

The renowned Jal Shastri Rajendra Singh said that a revolutionary step has been taken by the state government to give status of law to the ‘Right to Water’. He emphasized on need for making people conscious by conducting Jal Saksharta Abhiyan. He further said that we have been drawing water ceaselessly from the ground, but neither we care nor made efforts for water augmentation. Because of this, the problem of drinking water is emerging in a dreadful form in the entire country. We will have to make intensive efforts for water conservation by contemplating on it with utmost seriousness.

Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Gouri Singh informed that water will be conserved by constructing one pond in each gram panchayat under the Rozgar Guarantee Yojana. The Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Shukla informed about the objectives of the workshop.

The Principal Secretary Urban Development Sanjay Dubey, Principal Secretary Ashok Varnval along with subject-experts, law experts and officers of various departments were present at the workshop. About 30 subject experts of the state and country took part in the workshop.