Message from MNS on World Day for Water- Everyone Lives Downstream
Theme
Even though the water cycle is a continuous
process, increasing human activity has made drinkable freshwater a finite
resource. Recent events such as the water crisis and the proposed construction
of the Sungai Selangor Dam are manifestations of the urgent need to manage
water as a precious and finite resource.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) highlights
this urgent need to address water resource management, integrated river
and river basin management throughout the nation. In particular the following
issues must be accorded a higher priority:- Water demand must be
moderated through a comprehensive series of measures including education,
planning, incentive for water saving devices, pricing regime for consumption,
incentives to industrial users to reduce consumption and wastage.
- Water
supply must be more efficiently managed through rigorous protection of
water catchment areas, a sustained urgent programme to minimize leakage,
theft and strict enforcement of river pollution control measures.
- Comprehensive
planning to promote sustainable growth in river basins and redistribution
of growth to relieve demand in high growth areas.
MNS welcomes the establishment of the
National Water Council and urges the Council to take a leading role in
water resource management for the nation.
MNS is playing its part in addressing
this urgent need through its public awareness programmes and Environmental
Education modules, which the Society conducts regularly. Hopefully, through
these programs, everyone in every level of the Malaysian society will put
in an effort to conserve drinkable freshwater for the future.
Dato' Dr Salleh Mohd Nor
Letters to the Editor, Kuala Lumpur, 22 March 1999
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Created on 26th April 1999.