Jal Biradari to meet Jagan Mohan Reddy with Water Security Bill demand

Visakhapatnam: In spite of having two major and 16 minor rivers, Andhra Pradesh has been facing severe water crisis like other states.

Jal Biradari (Water Community) has proposed water literacy training programme in the ‘rice bowl of India’ to protect the water bodies, and to restore its earlier status.

‘Waterman of India’ Dr Rajendra Singh plans to meet Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in August to discuss about introducing the Water Security Bill for saving rivers and water bodies in the state. He has prepared ‘Water Literacy’ concept note in presence of various Jal Biradari state level leaders and asked them to submit to the CM.

Jal Biradari had been committed to water conservation for more than a decade in an informal way. In 2017, Maharashtra government has accepted its proposal and created a Water Literacy Centre to spread river literacy to the people living in river zones. So far, it has successfully trained 3,000 people and they are working from panchayat level to state level.

Members of Jal Biradari have made a concept note for water literacy in Tripura and other states as well. They insist the state governments to undertake all future plans with only sustainable development agenda. They demand to rejuvenate and restore the past eco-balance at the localities, which had been disturbed.

Jal Biradari national convener Bolisetty Satyanarayana said, “There should be proper framing of new water security laws to adhere to ownership of society with maintenance of them, with full responsibility, by them. For this most important factor is to demarcate the boundaries and areas of rivers, lakes and other water bodies scientifically to have natural eco flow of water.”

He said, “The government must take suggestions from experts and make a draft water literacy programme to eradicate water problems in the state. It should provide basic education to the people on groundwater and rainfall in the state, so that they understand the severity of the issue and support the administration in mitigating the water crisis.”