Ministry advises on efficient utilization of water resources

 

Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity has called for the proper management and utilization of the country’s water resources.

The call came today at day-long relevant workshop in Addis Ababa. 

Delivering speech at the opening event, State Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, Kebede Gerba emphasized on the need to give due focus to the efficient utilization of the water resource.

Kebede called for conservation activities around rivers and campaign against the release of waste into rivers in urban areas.

Mentioning the growing demand for clean water, he attributed the problem to climate change and improper utilization of water resources.

The state minister said more advocacy work is needed to promote the systematic utilization of water across the nation, with suggestions for drawing best lessons from other countries on its proper utilization.

The involvement of all concerned is essential, according to the state minister, to address the problem.

Country Director for Vitens –Evides International of Dutch Water Company Dr. Daniel Tiruneh on his part said collaboration is needed to meet the growing demand for water.

Collaboration is one of the mechanisms of resolving problems of water resource management as well as the enforcement of the regulations, the director said.

“We need to follow a number of steps to address the challenges on water resource,” he added.

Dr. Daniel indicated that: “There are ways that people can use cleaner production. While this meet is really like collaboration, here regulation must be enforced, discussion must be continued and we have to reach punitive measures.”

General Manager  of   Awash  Basin  Authority  Getachew Gizawu also called for more effort  to  minimize water wastage through environmental impact assessment at industrial sites.

The Awash Basin is hugely contributing in the expansion of industries and irrigation projects at national level, according to the General Manager.

Experts and scholars working in the fields of environmental protection, agriculture, water and irrigation attended the workshop.