SAD hails move to form water authority

PATIALA: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday appreciated the Punjab government’s move to set up a state water regulatory authority and asked the ruling Congress to prepare a white paper on the status of water resources in the state.
Akali leader Prem Singh Chandumajra described the decision to form the authority as a step in the right direction and said a white paper would enable the state and the Centre to make an informed decision on the issue.The former MP said the state’s water situation was alarming and steps to save water for future generations were the need of the hour, especially in states where people were heavily dependent on agriculture for livelihood. “The entire picture should be put before the people. There are reports that Punjab could become a desert in near future. Keeping this in view, the state government should inform (people) about the ground reality on water in the state and region,” he said.
He said all facts related to consumption of the water should be highlighted in the white paper and experts should be engaged to make people aware. “Though the step to form the authority has been taken rather late, SAD will support it after presenting its own viewpoint on the matter,” he said. He said the SAD also welcomed the government’s decision to convene an all-party meeting on the issue.