GUWAHATI, April 24 � The book Reflections on Managing WATER: Earth�s Greatest Natural Resource by Ranjit Barthakur and Indira Khurana was formally released at the Assam Administrative Staff College on Thursday.
Published by Balipara Foundation, the book was released by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Also present on the occasion were Jitesh Khosla, Chief Secretary; Himangshu Shekhar Das, Chief Information Commissioner; Ranjit Barthakur, founder trustee Balipara Foundation; Dr Indira Khurana, environmentalist; RK Krishna Kumar from the Tata Group; Dr Dhrubajyoti Saikia, Vice Chancellor, Cotton College State University; and Prof Gautam Barua, Director, IIIT-Guwahati.
Edited by Ranjit Barthakur and Indira Khurana, the book begins with a look at global water resources, and then focusses on India, exploring India�s water resources, its celebration, use and abuse of water, legal aspects and the linkage of water with nature.
The book also talks about the steps needed for assuring water abundance and calls for action on various fronts. A Pan-Indian book, issues specific to Assam and the North-east are also addressed.
The Chief Minister in his address stressed the need for finding solutions to water imbalance problems and other related issues. Gautam Baruah was of the view that many of the present-day problems were largely attributable to lack of proper water management.
A presentation on water as a critical resource was made by co-editor Indira Khurana. Ranjit Barthakur, who is the editor, said that the book also had chapters on water laws and on the need for suitable water management policies.
