World Water Day 1997

Celebrations

China - India - Pakistan - The Philippines
Canada: WaterCan - Saskatchewan
International Hydrological Programme (IHP) countries

Water Shortages Threaten Chinese Economy

At a conference held in Beijing, China on March 20, 1997, to mark World Water Day and China Water Week, dire warnings were given on the need to save water and protect water resources. As China's economy grows, the gap between the demand for water and the supply of water is becoming more evident. The country's agricultural sector has an annual water shortage of 30 billion m3 . About 60 million people are struggling to find enough water for their daily needs.

Consequences

China will lose 200 billion yuan (US$ 24.12 billion) of industrial and agricultural output and 20 billion kilogrammes of grain products every year as a result of a shortage of water. The conference urged that a water resource operational mechanism and a system of payment for water usage be established based on market economic principles. It was felt the management of water resources should be strengthened, particularly in the areas of administration, economics and legislation, to encourage a comprehensive water resources management. Measures ought to include rational water usage, the introduction of quotas and the setting of (reasonable) water tariffs. People who use water in excess will then be expected to pay for the extra water they use. (NB)

China Environment News, 15(A) Xiaoxinglongjie, Chongwen District, Beijing 100062, P.R. China, tel.: +86-10-67122478, fax: +86-10-67113772.

World Water Day - Uttar Pradesh, India

The District Project Management Unit (DPMU) of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, India, celebrated World Water Day on 20th March in collaboration with Development Alternatives, at the village of Punavali. The event was also attended by members of the Village Water and Sanitation Committees of the villages of Dhikoli, Nayakhera, Palipahari, Palinda and Domagor. The JalTAR kit (a water quality testing kit) of DPMU Jhansi was formally inaugurated and a few sample tests for testing water quality were conducted. A exhibition focusing on various technical options for water supply, safe drinking water and conservation of water resources was also organized.

The Director, Project Management Unit, The Swajal Project (Department of Rural Development of U.P.) 3, Fawn Brake Avenue, Sarojini naidu Marg, Lucknow - 226001, India, tel.: +91-522-214079, fax: +91-522-217966
(Swajal samachar, no. 2, April 1997)

World Water Day - Pakistan

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) observed World Water Day to help create mass awareness on the proper use of water. One day seminars were held at various National Centres throughout Pakistan on various water themes. The first programme was held at Islamabad on March 19, 1997, to act as a curtain raiser for the other events which took place on March 22.

The themes covered site-specific problems of the water sector in different parts of the country. Water quality for drinking was highlighted at Islamabad, groundwater management and water pollution at Lahore, pipe irrigation and small dams at Peshawar, artificial recharge and Karez v/s tubewells at Quetta, collaborative field drainage at Hyderabad, and saline agriculture and rainwater harvesting at Bahawalpur. (NB)

NADLIN/PCRWR, H no. 3 & 5, St no. 17, F-6/2, Islamabad, Pakistan, tel.: +92-51-814466
(Reservoir, vol. 15, no. 3, March 1997, p. 1-2)

World Water Day - The Philippines

The Presidential Task Force on Water Resources Development and Management led the Philippine celebration of World Water Day on March 21, 1997. The Task Force launched the PRU-TUBIG (People Who Are Responsible Users of Tubig) project during the day's press conference held at the office of the Secretary of the Environmental Management Bureau (DENR). The campaign, created mainly to involve citizens in the water-watch, strings together a series of programmes designed to address the various water issues in the country. Some programmes will solicit individual action through the creation of a mass-based network of citizens working together with the PRU-TUBIG agency in monitoring the country's water supply, as well as distribution, i.e. illegal connections, leaks or incidents that lead to contamination. Other planned programmes include public education on proper water management, offering tips on more efficient water-use methods.

Hotline Reports

PRU-TUBIG hopes to increase public concern about the state of the country's water supply and initiate efforts to curb the water crisis by acting immediately in hotline reports. The rampant wastage of water that has led to water scarcity, particularly in the metropolitan areas, caused some alarm.

Other Campaign Aspects

Other aspects of the campaign include:

the development of information, educational and communication materials utilizing popular media to promote water-related issues in the country;
a community project which will involve the partnership of the public and private sectors in efforts aimed at water conservation and management;
and a project which will recognize exemplary contributions by individuals or groups towards the cause of water conservation and development. (NB)

ITN (Philippines), 4/f LWUA Building, Katipunan Road, Balara, Quezon City 1104, The Philippines, tel.: +63-2-920-5581 to 99 loc. 226;
(Water & sanitation forum, vol. 2, no. 2, p. 18)