Development at cost of culture not sustainable: Mahajan

Jaipur, Aug 20 (PTI) Stressing that development at thecost of culture is not sustainable, Lok Sabha Speaker SumitraMahajan today highlighted the age-old traditions of waterconservation and sustainable use of water resources inRajasthan, saying these practices have virtually made it adrought-free state. "Our past tells us how civilisational strengths maysteer us through the contemporary challenges. It is importantthat we evolve our own indigenous ways of achievingsustainable goals," Mahajan said at the inaugural session ofthe meeting of the Women Parliamentarians’ Forum here. "Development at the cost of culture is not sustainable,"she stressed before the women parliamentarians from membercountries at the session in Rajasthan Assembly. She highlighted the traditions in the desert state ofRajasthan in water conservation and sustainable development. "Rajasthan receives scanty rainfall. The society herenurtured a strong tradition of water conservation andsustainable use of water resources derived from the teachingsof leaders such as Shree Guru Jambeshwar Bhagwan, who preachedpreserving biodiversity and sustainable natural resourcemanagement in order to peacefully co-exist with nature," shesaid. She said this resulted in a community-driven effort inthe field of rainwater harvesting, water conservation andwatershed development, making Rajasthan virtually a drought-free state. Mahajan mentioned Laporiya village in the state, sayingthe village did not require a single water tanker as it haddeveloped a unique dyke system called the ‘Chauka’ and othertraditional water conservation methods. She said one of the first environmentalist movementsinspired by women was the ‘Chipko’ movement (women treehuggers) started in the early 18th century in the state. "Women risked their lives to protect the forest treesfrom being felled," she added. PTI SDA AAR DVAAR