The Blue Delhi initiative for water conservation takes off

People from across Delhi filled up their tumblers with water
and marched on Rajpath – from India Gate to Vijay Chowk – as part of ‘Walk for Water 2011’ on March
19.

The march was a gesture to spread awareness about water conservation ahead of World Water Day on March 22.Participants comprising all age groups took a pledge under ‘The Blue Delhi Declaration’ aimed at making Delhi self-sufficient in water over the next five years.

The Blue Delhi initiative seeks to reverse the current trend
of planning for satisfying water demand by exploitative unsustainable use of
water or import of water into habitations.

‘Water for any habitat should be geared towards first
sustaining and then maximizing usage of locally available resources. Any import
should be done after these possibilities are exhausted,’ a release from the
organizers said.

‘I look forward to a time five years from now when Delhi
will become the first Indian city to become water secure,’ Union Minister for
Water Resources Salman Khurshid said in a statement.

Delhi Jal Board CEO Ramesh Negi said, ‘Although we are
trying our best to ensure that every citizen of Delhi gets adequate water, citizens
too need to make sure they curb wastage and prevent water pollution.’