New Delhi, Jan 12 : Union Water Resources Minister Professor Saifuddin Soz today said the India is making serious efforts to address numerous challenges in water resources sector with due emphasis on the sustainability of the eco-system in the larger interests of mankind.

Inaugurating the International Conference on Water, Environment, Energy and Society (WEES-2009) here today, Soz said population growth is a contributing factor to the per capita availability of water reducing day by day.

"The growing population coupled with industrialization and urbanization have resulted in demand for various uses. For optimum utilization of water resources, we have to adopt the most appropriate measures for development and put an efficient management system in place. We have achieved considerably in this direction," he said.

Referring to the ground water table situation and the deterioration in water quality, the Minister insisted on planning appropriate strategies on a priority basis.

He said sustainable development and the efficient management of water resources is the key to economic growth and poverty alleviation.

"This is more so for India, where about 70 per cent of population is dependent on agriculture," he added.

Besides this, he expressed an urgent need for a reliable assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources and for planning appropriate strategies for mitigation at the earliest.

He said that while new methods to mitigate emissions exist, the developed world should play its part in reducing their emission levels.

Informing about the steps taken by India in this direction, he referred to the water mission, which is one of the eight missions under the eight task force of climate change.

He advised to change habits of using water in judicious manner to safe water and accept water harvesting as a mission or a movement.

Referring to take active help from noted scientist Dr. Swaminathan, Prof. Soz said this would help to implement positive policy decisions.

"The research basis programmes taken be taken to masses and particularly to farmers with association of various stakeholders including the experts, scientific and academic institutions, and non-Governmental organizations," he said.

The Minister appealed to treat water problem not as a war but as a movement. (ANI)