Andina

Peru President: "Our challenge is to achieve better water management"

Presidente  Kuczynski  en el nuevo programa  de entrevistas Ama Llulla de TV Perú. Foto: ANDINA/Prensa Presidencia

Presidente Kuczynski en el nuevo programa de entrevistas Ama Llulla de TV Perú. Foto: ANDINA/Prensa Presidencia

10:39 | Lima, Mar. 13.

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Tuesday said his Government's challenge is to achieve a better water management, plus he called for a good use of this resource and for the preservation of forests.

Speaking during the launch event of Integrated Water Resources Project —aimed at ensuring efficient water management across the national territory— the statesman said coastal basins have serious problems in the long term due to deglaciation, which is advancing at a rapid pace.

Mr. Kuczynski stressed the need to think what must be done to preserve glaciers and gave an example of afforestation to attract rain.

One of the ideas applied to date, he recalled, is the Sierra Azul ('Blue Highlands') water seeding and harvesting program, which promotes the planting of small forests in basin headwaters.

Given the fact that almost half of the water running through coastal rivers goes to the sea, the President expressed support for staggering the fall of water, preserving a larger volume, and achieving better water management.

"That's the challenge," he said.

Peru's top official was joined by Agriculture Minister Jose Arista; World Bank Country Director for Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela Alberto Rodriguez; and Peru's National Water Authority (ANA) head Abelardo De la Torre.

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Published: 3/13/2018