In view of the ever increasing scarcity of fresh drinking water throughout the country, an innovative idea of setting up a water refinery in Asom and supplying refined water through water pipelines to the rest of the country is awaiting Dispur's nod. The annual per capita availability of fresh water in India has decreased from 6,000 cubic meter in 1947 to 2,100 cubic meter, which reflects the possibility of an acute fresh water crisis in the near future. This was stated by Minister for Power, Industry and Commerce Pradyut Bordoloi, while addressing the annual general meeting of the Asom State council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here today. "Though it sounds like an utopia, it can be a reality in future,' he quipped. Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd Bhupati Das took over charge as the CII Asom State council chairman from Abhijit Barooah today. Das said CII has plans to work on a university-industry partnership so as to use the resources of both industries to meet the myriad challenges facing them. Pradyut Bordoloi said the agriculture sector of the State deserves more attention, which still depends on a single crop. Since about 80 percent of the State's population depend on agriculture, Asom needs to change its cropping pattern, he said. Pointing out that consumerism, which is currently sweeping through the urban areas, is yet to touch the rural populace, Bordoloi said the dividing line between the urban and rural areas has to be erased. Pradyut Bordoloi said the South Block and North Block of New Delhi have to change their policy towards the northeast, since they still look at the region through the prism of security concern. He, however, described the new industrial policy for the northeast as a boon to the region. FINER chairman RS Joshi urged the minister to translate his vision into action in right earnest. CII northeast council chairman Dipankar Bhattacharjee said the northeast needs true leadership towards economic development.