Bhubaneswar, May 9: Officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today said the issue of water use for industrial purposes should be addressed without affecting the interest of other users, especially farmers.

Responding to a query on the possible conflict over water between industries and irrigation needs, ADB’s senior water resource specialist Kenichi Yokoyama said: “We have to be wary about water use.”

If possible, industrial users should harness their own water resources so that the irrigation and drinking water needs would not be affected, said the water resource expert.

Yokoyama, who was here to participate in a national workshop on participatory irrigation management and integrated water resource management organised by the ADB and the water resources department, said the issue was raised at the workshop none other than by industries secretary Ashok Dalwai.

Water resources secretary Aurobindo Behera said there would be some perceived conflict between the needs of upcoming industries and irrigation but the state government has consciously brought out a water policy recently according a priority to agriculture.

“We want to send a message that the interest of agriculture should not be compromised,” said Behera, adding that Orissa has given prime importance to agriculture, unlike Maharashtra that has attached priority to industry.

Though Orissa has an adequate availability of water during the rainy season, it faces water scarcity during the non-monsoon months. So the industries should store water for lean season, Behera further said.