Do you think your model of water conservation in Rajasthan can be replicated in other states effectively?

Do you think the ambitious project of interlinking of rivers can solve water crisis?

You have been a part of the Ganga River Basin Authority in the past, how do you see the national mission to clean Ganga?

Is the water in India so polluted that people have started depending on packaged water?

Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh spoke to TOI on the sidelines of Replenish Jharkhand and said that after big dam projects, Centre's river linking project will be the next big disaster of Independent India. He spoke at length about the need for conservation of water. Excerpts: with due respect to Agro ecological climate zones of the country.-ExcerptsIndia comprises 90 distinct agro-ecological climate zones where the reserves of surface water and sub-surface water differ and if water conservation plans are made without taking this into consideration, no project can be successful. One of the biggest challenges plaguing most of the other states is legal command of authorities over water. The government of India, state government and local bodies have the authority to deal with water and this makes the situation confusingduring conflict resolution. No single pattern for water conservation can be adopted nationally unless there is community support. I have been able to do it because people of Rajasthan were with me.After big dam construction projects, interlinking of rivers is going to be the next big ecological disaster of independent India. Around 40% of big dam projects came up in Maharashtra after independence as most of the agriculture ministers serving at the Centre have been from that state and they focused on building dams. Today, most of the farmer suicide are taking place in Marathwada and Vidarbha region where all sources of water have almost dried up. When we talk about agro ecological climate zones we cannot tamper with the biodiversity by inter linking rivers. These projects are contractor driven which aims at extending benefits to industrial housesas the decentralized control over river water would soon come under centralized control.Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to call Ganges the mother and people of the country expect a lot from him to rejuvenate the river. If he is the son of Ganga, he should not allow anyone to convert Ganga into a waste carrying drain. Those pushing industrial effluents into the river should be strongly punished and a community should be involved in the national mission to clean Ganga.There has been concerted effort of multinational companies and packaged water manufacturers to 'educate' people in the wrong direction and convince them of all sources of water being polluted. This is a perfect marketing strategy which has now pushed the packaged water industry to Rs50,000 cr in India. The growth rate is so fast that we expect the business volume to increase by Rs. 25,000 crore every year. Potable and drinking water should be the government's focus. in place of engaging companies to provide drinking water to commoners.