Do we need 'Corporate help' in Creation of water bodies and building of check dams, when huge amount of funds are available/allocated under MGNREGS, Watershed Development etc. and also most of these remaining unspent? Corporate's involvement is not questionable, but whether it should be in form of Govt 'seeking help', or Corporate showing its 'philanthropy' (in line with history of pond/WHS digging by rich/elites)or as a Corporate's 'strategy' or should form a part of 'Corporate's Responsibility', is what requires to be debated. This also need to be considered together with the type and amount of water-extraction/use and water-disposal/pollution by the corporates.

Nevertheless it is good that Govt's engagement with corporate over water has started touching many dimensions - be in preventing corporate to draw water from rivers Or initiative towards rationalization of water allocation to industry Or asking corporate to augment water-resources etc. as reflected in the water-news over last few days!

Orissa to seek corporate help to solve water crisis

STAFF WRITER 12:26 HRS IST

Berhampur (Orissa), May 4 (PTI) Faced with drinking water crisis in several urban areas, Orissa government is now planning to seek help from public sector and private corporate houses to mitigate the problem.

"We need assistance from major corporate houses to tackle the drinking water crisis in major urban areas in the state," Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Badrinarayan Patra said here.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has agreed in principle to fund around Rs 40 crore for creating a water body to solve the crisis in western Orissa towns - Brajaraj Nagar, Jharsuguda and Belphar. While the MCL set up a water body, the government will fund the laying of pipeline for water distribution, the minister said.

"We have discussed with the authorities of Rourkela Steel Plant for construction of a check dam on the nearby river, which will help tackle the drinking water crisis in Rourkela," he said.