Delegates attend the seminar at Patna University on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 30: Effective management of water resources demands a holistic approach, linking social and economic development with protection of natural ecosystems, suggested speakers at a national seminar here.

Experts from across the country at the two-day UGC-sponsored meet on “recent advances in water resources development and management” organised at the geology department of Patna University, urged for an efficient mechanism to ensure sustainable development of water resources.

Speakers said water development and management should be based on a participatory approach involving users, planners and policy makers at all levels.

Inaugurating the seminar Sudipto Adhikari, vice-chancellor of Patna University, said: “The country is on the threshold of a severe water crisis as even the ‘water surplus’ states have been witnessing progressive decline in water resources.”

The VC stressed on conservation and optimum use of water at all levels. He said: “It has been found that non-judicious use of water and uncontrolled digging of bore-wells in urban areas are one of the reasons behind depleting groundwater. Moreover, natural sources of water like ponds, rivers and lakes are also getting polluted despite various schemes and programmes to keep check on pollution. They have provided no results. Outlining the problem of water sharing between neighbouring countries, he stressed the need of evolving a foolproof mechanism for sustainable development of water resources.

P.C. Chandra, former regional director of Central Ground Water Board said the consumption of groundwater has been doubling every 20 years mainly because of the rising population. At least seven towns and cities of Bihar — Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Ara and Biharsharif — have been experiencing declining groundwater level leading to scarcity, he said.

Social activist and Barh Mukti Abhiyan convener Dinesh Kumar Mishra regretted that during the past 60 years, Bihar has been able to irrigate only 12 lakh hectare. At the present stage, it will take at least 200 years to get the entire 53 lakh hectares irrigated in Bihar. He blamed the inefficient system for the existing problems of water management.