The nation owns the water not an individual
The nation owns the water not an individual
![](http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/images/20010815/30-BOX.jpg)
Keshubhai Patel
Chief minister, Gujarat
On overflowing check dams:
We needed a permanent solution that not only drought-proofs the state but also provides livelihoods. The effort is to trap every drop of rainwater through check dams. The overflowing dams are a lesson for people to take up more water conservation.
Poverty cannot be eradicated without the proper utilisation of water. Our Vision 2010 gives priority to water conservation.
On the future of the structures:
We are creating an annual grant under which the irrigation and the public works department will maintain the check dams. We have also desilted tanks in villages with the help of villagers. We have not decided as to who would control these structures