A comprehensive and suitable policy to protect the country’s water resources is underway.

The revelation was made Wednesday by the Deputy Director General of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Paul Kabalisa, during a consultative meeting in Kigali that brought together partners and organisations involved in water resources management."It (policy) provides a framework for equitable allocation of water resources and the sharing of benefits derived from that resource,” he said.The meeting observed that lack of substantial data and information regarding the status of the country’s water resources was a hinderence in the ongoing water conservation and management campaign. However, the stakeholders resolved to play a leading role towards achieving this goal.Another major challenge was insufficient awareness about the country’s water resources management policy that was launched last month. Other limiting factors cited were increasing water pollution and contamination due to invasive weeds, intensive soil erosion, sedimentation and poor sanitation facilities.The Chairperson of Rwanda Water Partnership, Patrick Safari, called upon the general public and local leaders to equally embrace the conservation campaign."There is urgent need to address these issues by promoting positive attitudes towards water resources conservation and management,” he said.