Several renowned water conservationists, experts and practitioners from different parts of Asia on Tuesday joined an Asia Regional Webinar jointly organised by Caritas India and Caritas Asia under the Caritas Institute of Developmental Action and Learning (CIDAL) to mark the World Water Day 2022 celebration.

The two-hour online event (webinar) “THE PROSPECTS OF GROUNDWATER RECHARGING & HARVESTING” on March 22, 2022, was organised to commemorate World Water Day 2022 and talk about how to conserve, preserve and protect the groundwater resources through rainwater conservation, recharging and harvesting. The webinar was attended by around 97 participants from across Asia. The World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis, and a core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater.

Regional Coordinator of Caritas Asia, Mr. Zar Gomez, who contextualized the webinar said that water is under extreme threat from a growing population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry, and the worsening impacts of climate change. The value of water is about much more than its price. The theme of World Water Day 2021 is “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible”. Through this webinar, we brought clarity to understand sustainable ways of water management and groundwater recharging. Groundwater has enormous and complex value for our Household, Culture, education, health and integrity of our natural environment. Hence it is important to conserve, preserve, and protect water resources.

Fr. (Dr.) Paul Moonjely, the Executive Director of Caritas India gave the Keynote speech highlighting the importance of conserving precious water resources. He said Caritas India has been doing the little we can on the conservation and replenishment of Groundwater resources. He shared his experiences of promoting water conservation and agricultural enhancement. He further stated that our country is blessed with a lot of water resources, water bodies but the situation remains that we go through a lot of water stress situations, droughts on the one side and floods on the other side are the irony of human life today. Fr. Paul emphasised that it is our responsibility to bring this core message to everyone that we value water and we work for the conservation and preservation of water. Making water as a kind of commodity to make profits and huge margins and we see that in the process of making margin many are marginalised and many are denied of their basic right to live in the form of denying water.

Joint Director of National River Conservation Directorate, Dept. of Water Resources, Govt. of India, Dr. Sabita Madhvi Singh shared about the policy implementation of the ministry and achievements of various water conservation/management schemes being promoted by the Government of India. She mentioned the national water policy and national water mission and explained the measures for sustainable development in water resources. Dr. Sabita also shared about different schemes under the swatch Bharat mission, catch the rain campaign etc.

Dr. Kas Mani, the Groundwater Advisor, World Bank, FAO, IFC spoke of the critical role of “Participatory Groundwater Management in times of changing Climate Scenarios“ through building community knowledge to bring visibility to groundwater. He said managing groundwater is not an option but urgently necessary and needs a participatory approach. The Vulnerable populations prone to distress need support through major initiatives at the grass root levels. Groundwater aquifers are getting more and more vulnerable to abuse, climate change will only make the situation worst. He stressed that conversation needs to be initiated on the responsibilities of all stakeholders for responsible action.

Ms. Sophan Kanhchna, Project Manager of Caritas Cambodia shared the Groundwater Recharging Experiences in Cambodia. Caritas Cambodia has been promoting small scale infrastructure (water conservation measures) in the community including ponds, calvert, bridge. Under water and sanitation program, Caritas Cambodia is supporting communities and households to access water for year-round such as water filter, rain water collection, water jars, water pumps, hand water pumps. Improve Sanitation through support toilet construction, West management, hand washing system in school and community, …etc. Community water management has been done by supporting facilities to improve water including Solar water pump, community pond. Facilitate to create community water business: Community business (pure dirking water, water filter producer group, water connection business…etc).

Mr. Sukleash George Costa of Caritas Bangladesh presented Good Practices recorded from reducing water and Soil pollution through Agrochemicals from of Agricultural Water Pollution Project. He shared that the research focus includes Nutrient Management by applying half chemical along with FYM, earthworm compost, Trico-compost, Trichoderma and promoting ICM (Integrated Crop Management). The objectives of the action research include identification of the causes of water and soil pollution of the project area, understanding farmer’s perception about water and soil pollution due to the traditional agricultural practices, making recommendations and suggestions for sustainable environment-friendly agriculture practice methods and analysing and influence the current government policy and programmers to protect soil and water pollution.

Mr. Ari Nugroho, Caritas Asia moderated the open forum and Dr. Haridas of Caritas India expressed a vote of thanks. The webinar concluded at 12.00 hrs.