Water convention aims at plugging problems

Indian Water Works Association (IWWA), Mumbai centre with support from government of Maharashtra, MJP, CIDCO and UNICEF has organized its 48th annual convention in Vashi. The three- day convention began on Thursday at CIDCO Exhibition Centre.

IWWA, founded in 1968 is a voluntary body of professionals like public health engineers, academicians, scientists, contractors, consultants, technocrats working in the field of water supply and sewerage. It has 32 centres. More than 600 experts professionals from India and abroad are attending the event.

The convention was inaugurated by Babanrao Lonikar, minister of water and sanitation department ( WSD), prin- cipal secretary WSD, principal secretary, director of municipal administration, member secretary, MJP.

Lonikor said, “Maharashtra leads in the country in terms of sanitation and is a benchmark for others to follow. We are now aiming at total stopping of open defecation in the state.”

He added, “There is a drought issue in the state which the government is working on. We will look into the papers submit and implement them wherever possible.”

The exhibition gallery has products related to water and sanitation sector. A total of 69 government agencies, manufacturers and NGOs are participating in the event. Hemant Landge, director (technical) of MJP and chairman of IWWA Mumbai centre, said: “Forty papers are being presented in the convention.”

BACHCHAN KUMAR Babanrao Lonikar, minister of water and sanitation department, at the inaugural function at Cidco Exhibition Centre.