1.8 billion people using contaminated drinking water: Govt

Over a billion people in the country are using contaminated drinking water, the Environment Ministry said on the occasion of World Water Day today as it stressed on sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Environment Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha, inaugurated an exhibition 'Jal Hai To Kal Hai' aimed at creating awareness on conservation of water.

The theme of World Water Day 2017 is 'Wastewater'.

"Today, 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio," the ministry said a statement.

World Water Day is held annually on March 22, as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22 , 1993 as the first World Water Day.

The exhibition on water conservation was organized by the National Museum of Natural History, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)