Chhattisgarh needs to identify and notify all of its water bodies on priority to ensure that latur like water crisis are not created here, said Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh here on Saturday.
“Chhattisgarh, which receives an average rainfall of 1200 mm, needs to evolve its crop pattern according to the changing rainfall pattern,” Singh said. He was in the city to participate in a programme focused over ’revival of rivers in Chhattisgarh and solving water crisis.’
He also visited Kharun river on Saturday in Raipur. later on while talking to media persons, Singh questioned the relevance of proposed riverfront project. “People need to decide if they want free flowing rivers or constrained canals,” he said.
Vehemently opposed to river linking projects, Rajendra Singh said, ``such projects would create tension amongst different sets of population and might even threaten the country’s integrity altogether,’’.
Singh, who is also known as ‘Waterman of India’ also warned against rampant sand mining and cited the instance of Arpa river in Bilaspur to point out that sand from river bed is being carried through air to nearby fertile fields and has threatens the agriculture of the area.