West Bengal Water Resources Investigation and Development Minister Saumen Kumar Mahapatra today said the state government will not impose water tax on the public.
"As per the government's resolve to ensure free health services to everyone, we cannot impose water tax. Remember the other name of water is life," Mahapatra said during 'World Water Day 2017' function at Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mahapatra said that awareness among people can stop wastage of water upto 80 per cent.
"We are celebrating this day at block level everywhere in the state. From workshops at chambers in the city to 'Jal Dharo Jal Bharo' campaigns at panchayat level. We are trying to involve every segment of the society," the minister said.
Mohapatra said the next World War will be fought over water issues as the ground water is depleting due to misuse of water resources.
"For sustainable and judicial use of water resources we are implementing 'Jal Dharo Jal Bharo' and Rainwater Harvesting campaigns," the minister said.
"As part of this campaign, my department has created 1,86,000 ponds all over the state in the past six years which is well above the target of 50,000, set by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," he claimed.
Academy of Water Technology and Environment Management Director Ashim Kumar Bhattacharya said that India will be "water starved" by 2050 and "water-stressed" by 2025 if the misuse of water resources continues in the same manner.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)