New Delhi, May 22 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a mass movement to save forests and conserve “every drop” of water during the monsoon, citing the current heat wave and drought to loss of green cover.

Modi, who has been reviewing the drought with Chief Ministers, said in his Mann ki Baat radio talk that a number of states have taken some good initiatives to conserve water and he had asked Niti Aayog to study the best practices for their replication all over the country.

Referring to the intense heat wave in large parts of the country, he said concerns increased few days back when news came in that the monsoon could be delayed by a week beyond June 1.

”Most parts of the country are experiencing intense heat wave. Be it humans, birds or animals, all are troubled... It is only because of environment that such problems continue to increase. Depletion of forests has been going on, trees continue to be cut. In a way, the humankind itself destroyed the environment and put itself on the path of destruction,” he said.

”I urge the countrymen, let us decide that we will not let even a drop of water go waste during June, July, August and September... The issue of water concerns not only the farmers but everybody... The rainy (monsoon) season is coming.. Start the preparations now to see where to save water,” he said.

”I urge you. Do not let this (Monsoon) season go. In the coming four months, a mass movement in the form of 'Save Water Abhiyan' is needed to save every drop of water. And this task is not only of the governments or politicians but that of the common masses,” he said, seeking contribution from the media too in this endeavour.