The centre has announced that 14th of April, the birthday of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar will be celebrated as Water Day. The announcement was made today by Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti at a National Seminar in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Underlining the role of water in different plans and schemes, Ms Bharti said, there is a need to reform the water resources management in the country and those misusing water should be punished. She said, the government has taken up 99 'Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programmes' which will help irrigate 80 lakh hectare additional land. <br/><br/>Ms. Bharti said, to complete these projects by the year 2020, the Cental Water Commission has sent teams of scientists to various parts of the country. She said, the teams will submit their reports very soon. <br/><br/>Underlining the importance of State Government and local administration in flood management the Minister said it is their responsibility to identify flood prone areas in advance and to ensure that there is no human settlement there. She added, if still there is human settlement the people residing there should be constantly warned of the flood.

The centre has announced that 14th of April, the birthday of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar will be celebrated as Water Day. The announcement was made today by Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti at a National Seminar in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Underlining the role of water in different plans and schemes, Ms Bharti said, there is a need to reform the water resources management in the country and those misusing water should be punished. She said, the government has taken up 99 'Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programmes' which will help irrigate 80 lakh hectare additional land. <br/><br/>Ms. Bharti said, to complete these projects by the year 2020, the Cental Water Commission has sent teams of scientists to various parts of the country. She said, the teams will submit their reports very soon. <br/><br/>Underlining the importance of State Government and local administration in flood management the Minister said it is their responsibility to identify flood prone areas in advance and to ensure that there is no human settlement there. She added, if still there is human settlement the people residing there should be constantly warned of the flood.