All India mayors' meet resolves to save water

The two-day national convention of Mayors ended with a firm resolve to implement programmes to save every drop of water.

The focus was on environmental conservation and promoting water harvesting systems to optimise the use of precious water resources.

Agra Mayor Navin Jain, who was unanimously elected President of the All India Mayors' Council, said a campaign would be launched by all municipal corporations to save rain water for which the Prime Minister's help would be sought.

A team of the Mayors' Council will meet Chief Ministers to sensitise them on environmental issues and seek support for promoting water harvesting mechanisms at the local levels. "Within a short period results will start showing," Jain said.

Around 85 Mayors who attended the convention which ended on Sunday evening agreed to promote greening of urban areas on a priority basis under the PPP model. The sewerage systems in cities would be expanded to reach out to populations in newer areas.

The Mayors felt the time had come to strengthen and expand the activities of local bodies, for which more powers were required. In Uttar Pradesh, the Mayors have been given the power to record the confidential reports of Municipal Commissioners.

Some Mayors wanted a big push to the current campaign to contain the menace of polythene.

The consensus was in favour of a uniform system of governance at the municipal level. The mayors wanted acceptance of the principle "one country, one system." IANS