NEW DELHI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday inaugurated India Water Week-2017 in New Delhi, a government spokesman said.
Kovind used the occasion to raise awareness among people in the country to conserve water.
"In urban India, 40 billion litres of waste water is produced every day. It is vital to adopt technology to reduce the toxic content of this water, and to deploy it for irrigation and other purposes. This has to be part of any urban planning programme," Kovind said.
"The issue of water is becoming still more critical in view of climate change and related environmental concerns."
The president said better and more efficient use of water remains a challenge for Indian agriculture and industry alike.
"It requires us to set new benchmarks in both our villages and in the cities we build," he said.
According to Kovind, currently 80 percent of water in India is used by agriculture and 15 percent by industry.
"In the coming years, this ratio will change. The total demand for water will also rise. Efficiency of water use and reuse, therefore, has to be built into the blueprint of industrial projects."
The president said Indian government has prepared a strategic plan for ensuring drinking water supply in all rural areas by 2022, when India celebrates its 75 years of Independence.
Kovind inaugurated the event in presence of federal minister of Water Resources Nitin Gadkari and several other dignitaries.
A government spokesman said about 1,500 delegates from India and 13 other countries will attend the five day event.
The theme of India Water Week-2017 is "Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth," the spokesman said.
