RAJSHAHI, March 23, 2021 (BSS)- Sharing and disseminating their respective expertise water experts in a discussion unanimously mentioned that appropriate integrity consideration can be the crucial means of proper valuation of water.
Value of water is much more than its economic value because water has enormous value in terms of households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of the natural environment.
So, proper valuation of water along with its enhanced protection depends on the practice of integrity at all levels.
The experts came up with the observations while participating in a webinar titled “Role of Integrity in valuing water” discussing and devising ways and means on how to ensure integrity, transparency, accountability and good governance in the water sector.
Bangladesh Water Integrity Network (BAWIN), Change Initiative, NGO Forum for Public Health and Water Integrity Network (WIN) jointly hosted the webinar in observance of the World Water Day, 2021 on Monday.
The theme of this year is Valuing Water. Renowned water expert Prof Ainun Nishat addressed the virtual meeting as chief guest, while Prof Saiful Islam from Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented a keynote paper with BAWIN President Engineer Shahidul Hassan in the chair.
Khulna Water and Sewerage Authority Managing Director Engineer Md. Abdullah, Environmental Economist Professor Enamul Haque, NGO Forum for Public Health Executive Director S.M.A. Rashid, Adjunct Fellow of University of Sydney Dr Reba Paul and WIN Programme Coordinator Binayak Das were the panel discussants.
Change Initiative Executive Director Zakir Hossain Khan Moderated the discussion.
In his remarks, Prof Ainun Nishat mentioned water demand has increased significantly. So, proper uses of water, availability and mitigating the uncertainty to get water should be given priority. Besides, navigation needs to be a top priority and ranking must be done in terms of drinking water, food security.
In addition to ensuring equal distribution of water, water quality must be considered in the valuation of water, he opined.
Prof Islam apprised the participants that water is a scarce resource around the world. He claimed that two million people lack access to safe water, 48 million people lack access to improved sanitation and 30 percent of the total population lives on less than sanitation in Bangladesh.
Highlighting the issues of how water is being polluted and crises being intensified due to climate change he stressed the need to give equal importance to both proper valuation and integrity in the water sector.
Sharing his expertise on the issue S.M.A. Rashid said water has both direct and indirect value and it is a multi-sectoral issue.
Protecting water resources with application of the integrity management toolbox together with inter-agency collaboration has become indispensable to align with SDGs goal in 2030.
Dr Reba Paul said water is a precious resource so science-based adaptive planning alongside integrity can be the effective means of mitigating the challenges in terms of water resource management.
In his speech, Binayak Das underscored the need for advocating the water integrity issue with the policymakers so that the commitments are reflected in the eighth five year plan, national integrity strategy and operations of the local government.
Engineer Abdullah claimed that not only safe drinking water but also irrigation is a very important and valuable part in water management. The main challenge in water resource management is how to meet the demand for water with limited resources.
Engineer Shahidul Hassan underlined the need for controlling the excessive use of water besides determining its fair price.