Jamshedpur, Dec. 11: Tata Steel�s natural resources division and Tata Steel Rural Development Society, CSR, are organizing a two-day workshop on �Sustainable Development of Water Resources in Singhbhum, Jharkhand�. The workshop kick started today at Beldih Club, Jamshedpur.
Inaugurating the workshop, N. N. Sinha, principal secretary, rural development, Government of Jharkhand, said, �A concerted approach is required to conserve rain water. In Jharkhand, half of the rainwater cannot be conserved because it runs off. And along with this water, the top soil also erodes away, depleting the fertility of the soil.�
Reinforcing the importance of water conservation in industry, Sunil Bhaskaran, vice-president, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, stated, �Water conservation remains one of the biggest challenges today. We, at Tata Steel, are always looking out for approaches that can minimize the use of water for industrial uses.�
The workshop participants comprises a mix of village level institution representatives, representatives from civil society, senior officials and staff members of Tata Steel Rural Development Society along with experts from natural resources division of Tata Steel.
G.K. Roy, scientist and Director-in-Charge, CGWB, expressed concern over water scarcity. �In terms of groundwater extraction, as many as six blocks in Jharkhand, including Jharia, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, are over exploited. Across Jharkhand, there are 210 such blocks.�
Sharing important the features of the National Water Policy 2012, Kalol Saha, director, PMU, Jharkhand Water and Sanitation Mission, observed, �Allocation of water depending on different requirements has been prioritized in the policy. Provision of water for drinking and sanitation acquires the top priority followed by using water for domestic needs, food security and supporting sustenance agriculture and minimum ecosystem needs.�
Dr. Nitish Priyadarshi, geologist from Ranchi University, talked about surface water resources with a special reference to the Kolhan region. Prem Prakash from PRADAN presented a watershed case study, while Debdoot Mohanty, Head, CSR, Tata Steel and Mr. S N Nandi, Head, civil and water infrastructure, shared work done by the Tata Steel Rural Development Society on rainwater harvesting structures in the Kolhan region.
