Use technology, innovation for sustainable water management — Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Experts and industry players must constantly keep abreast with the latest knowledge and technology in water management to ensure sustainable development of water resources, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this was also crucial because technology would be able to simulate a bad situation caused by poor water management and work on resolving the issue.

“We need to manage water smartly and efficiently. We need to be innovative.

“This is because water-related issues, especially shortage as a result of poor management, have been identified by industries, governments, academia and civil societies as one of the top three global risks of highest concern,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said this when opening the 37th World Congress of International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research ( IAHR) at the Putra World Trade Centre, here, yesterday.

He said that with the current population growth and urbanisation trend, consumption patterns for water would continue to grow, causing water to be increasingly scarce.

Globally, he said, the demand for water would increase by 55 per cent by 2050 and that if there was insufficient supply, it could lead to competition and struggle for water resources among states and nations in the same region or continent and between continents.

“Water is one of the biggest challenges for sustainable development over the coming decades.

“Its effects can be felt right across all three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic,” he said, adding that we are left with no choice but to ensure that water is efficiently managed.

Speaking to reporters later, Ahmad Zahid said the government was committed to undertaking various improvements including a better weather forecast system and deepening rivers besides rehabilitation and conservation of water catchments to control floods.

He said the coordination between the federal and state governments was being enhanced for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said RM40 billion was needed to carry out flood mitigation works from 2015.

Over 700 experts in the water industry from 54 countries are participating in the five- day conference which began yesterday. — Bernama