India can learn water management from Israel: Minister

New Delhi -  The availability of per capita water resources is declining steadily in India which has a lot to learn from Israel in the field of water management technology, Urban Development  Minister Kamal Nath said here Wednesday.

"Despite being located in one of the most arid places in the world, Israel is independent in terms of water resources and has demonstrated the way to manage water resources. India has a lot  to earn from Israel in this sector," Nath said at an Indo-Israel Water Management Seminar.

Appreciating the water technology of Israel, the minister said: "The food output in Israel has increased by 9 percent over the past 16 years, using same amount of water resources available  16 years ago."

Nath expressed concern over the growing need for water in the future in view of the rapid pace of urbanisation in the country.

"Urban water supply has to be managed as a service due to rapid urbanisation in India. Urbanisation is a huge challenge which has lead to a rapid growth of cities in India. This is evident  from the fact that in 2001 we had 560 cities and in 2016 we will have 8,000 towns," Nath said at the seminar where Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz was also present.

He stressed the need for the regulation of ground water supply.

"Since problems related to water collection and treatment have compounded, we need to take a cue from Israel which is no.1 in the field of recycling water," he added.

A delegation of experts from Israel’s national water company Mekorot was also present at the seminar.