He was speaking after presiding over launching of book ‘Unleashing India-Water: Elixir of Life’ by Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily here on Friday.

Though protecting the dams was the duty of state governments, the Centre would prevail upon them to adopt the model law in the interest of safety of the reservoirs, the Minister said.

India’s geographical area comprised 2.4 per cent of the world and has 16 per cent of the world population but only 14 per cent of Indians are getting potable water, he said.

Releasing the book, Vice President Hamid Ansari urged that all stake holders should join hands with Government to contain the negative fallout of climate change on agriculture.
Former Union minister and Institute of Rural Management Chairman Yogendra K Alag spoke about the book.

This is the second book penned by Moily in the Unleashing India series.

Next books on this series will be on energy and human resources, Moily said. “Water: Elixir of Life” deals with judicious use of water and water management in proper manner.
Moily also argued in favour of inter-linking of rivers in regional level without harming environment.

Though he expressed concern about environmental impact on linking of rivers at national level, he said at regional level such projects was implemented in the past and they have been proved successful.