The industrial sector could use some of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards supporting research in the sphere of water management and pollution mitigation.
Adviser to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Rajiv Sharma said this at the inaugural session of the environment summit organised jointly by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Friday.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma said the importance of water has continued to rise for India and Indian business in a scenario where the per capita water availability is drastically decreasing.
Speaking of water-related actions of the Department of Science and Technology, he stressed that the industry sector too has an important role to play in this scenario.
The industrial sector should work towards reducing their effluent discharge as well as water footprint, he said, while suggesting that industry could use some of its CSR funds to support research in the important sphere of water management and pollution mitigation.
Director General of UCOST, Rajendra Dobhal said that according to United Nation’s World Water report 2015, the world is set to face a 40 per cent per cent shortfall in water supplies by 2030 under the business as usual scenario. Industry has an important role to play in water conservation and it is also the responsibility of the industry sector to ensure that its quantity of water requirements remain at levels which can be met in a sustainable manner and to make sure that its water discharge is not contaminated.
Earlier, CII State council head Suresh Redhu said the confederation had been working across India with diverse stakeholders for water conservation and management through its dedicated center of excellence on water- the CII Triveni Water Institute.
The institute provides advisory services to industry, advocacy for water use efficiency and works to raise awareness on water issues. The centre has also developed an innovative Water Planning and Assessment Tool (WATSCAN), which will be applied in 50 districts in 10 drought-prone states over the next five years, he added.