Water Woes: Bhubaneswar Denizen Finds Mention In PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

New Delhi: Amid the worsening water crisis in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he had received letters from several people, including a Bhubaneswar denizen.

Addressing his first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme after assuming office for the second term as the Prime Minister, Modi appealed for building a mass movement for water conservation, creating awareness and share knowledge about the traditional ways of water storage.

Key takeaways from his address: 

1. Replying to comments on NarendraModi app and Mygov, he said that people wrote to him regarding the challenges of water woes. He, in particular, took the name of Sitanshu Mohan Parida of Bhubaneswar and Pawan Gaurai of Belagavi, Yash Sharma and Shahab Altaf, among others.

2. The time has come to find a solution as only 8 per cent of the rainwater is harvested in the country, he said.

3. Stating that a new Jalshakti Ministry has been created for faster decision-making process, Modi said he has also written to sarpanchs and gram pradhans across the country. He has urged them to convene a meeting of the gram sabha to find a solution to the problem and they have shown exemplary enthusiasm.

5. On June 22, people in villages contributed free labour to accumulate every drop of single water, he said.

6. Sharing some of the steps underway in states like Punjab and Telangana to mitigate the issue, Modi also called upon luminaries from across the spectrum to spread the message of water conservation through innovative campaigns.

The PM’s appeal comes against the backdrop of India witnessing one of its worst water crisis in decades. In parched Chennai, according to reports, people are even selling their valuables to purchase water. The situation remains as grim in several South Indian cities and other parts of the country.