Last week i heard a news that water is not available in minister's home in New Delhi . In India , where a minister or M.P. is thought to be a very powerful person. They are the people who makes policy for the whole country. If these VIPs are not getting water then what will happen to a beggar a or a poor person? They will die thirsty. This situation is a wake up call. Almost one fifth of the world's population (about 1.4 billion people) live in areas where the water is physically scarce. Today i read another news that water storage dips in dams (25 bcm against 154 bcm ) because of late monsoon and low rainfall.this is really a alarming situation. If we continue to use water in present rate then its not too far when we will fight 3rd world war for water.
One can have a question that in earth we have a lot of water then why is it a scarce resource . yes we have 71% water. but do not forget that we have only 2.5% fresh water in form of ground water and glaciers.
So now another Question may be , why this water is going to be scarce. when we have water cycle(when we use water it goes back to atmosphere and then again comes back to earth). Here are the various reasons that are making water a scarce resource
CAUSES
1. Over Exploitation:: For proper use Water Extraction rate must be equal to Ground water Recharge rate. But today it is very high. because of which water table is going down. with the help of newer technology we are extracting water at rapid pace. we over utilize water for Agriculture (biggest consumer of water) and Industrial use.
2. Concretion:: Now every one is looking for a better society a better place to live. We want development. but we forgot one thing i.e Sustainable Development. We are building mega city , high buildings , metro, in the name of development . off course these are development but by doing this we are covering the earth with concrete. in big city it is difficult to find soil.Because of concretion rain do not go to soil and ground water do not get recharged. And therefore water table goes down.
3. Lack of awareness and civic sense :: I have seen people who can have there work done in 1 bucket of water but they are using 3 bucket water. because they do not know the value of this life giving resource. we always left our water tap open , wasting water. These type of wastes are decreasing the availability of water.
4. Water Pollution:: Water pollution is another major problem. In our country most of the rivers are polluted . and these rivers are source of water for a larger portion of our population. Out of India's 3,119 towns and cities, just 209 have partial treatment facilities, and only 8 have full wastewater treatment facilities (WHO 1992). 114 cities dump untreated sewage and partially cremated bodies directly into the Ganges river. Downstream, the untreated water is used for drinking, bathing, and washing. This situation is typical of many rivers in India as well as other developing countries.
5. Lack of Government Attention:: Govt. is not doing enough to save water. There policies are on papers these are not being implemented properly. India had been given loans for river cleaning but still we have polluted river. Our govt. is not implementing the waste management plans properly. In the all Govt. is not taking the situation seriously.
we have National Water Commission and Center Pollution Control Board. but are they are not doing their job. if they were then why is a Member-Secretary of the Government of India’s Center Pollution Control Board is sitting on fast for "Save Ganga Aandolan"?
6. Deforestation: From the last decade we are witnessing low rainfall and late monsoon . Trees are the very essential for completion of water cycle and for rain also. Due to the Deforestation rainfall is decreasing day by day. It is estimated that almost half of the tropical forest have been destroyed. And abundance of forest are directly proportional to rail fall. i.e. if Deforestation will continue at present rate then after couple of decade we will see earth with no water.
7. Population: National Geographic studies estimate that 1.8 billion people around the world will live in "extreme water scarcity" by 2025. Due to increase in population, consumption of water is also increasing.
SOLUTIONS
Now after understanding the seriousness of problem described above. we should not just discuss the problem and leave it on its own or Government. we should come forward and bring a solution and start implementing it . Starting from individual level to mass level up to global level. Following option may be the solution to the problem up to some extent but these solution are not full fledged. For a full prove solution we need support and help from every individual dependent on this resource.
1. Plantation and Building Green City: Plantation is very necessary if we want a environment friendly society. So if we are building big city by removing forest then this is not a Sustainable Development. we should develop infrastructure side by side increasing area under forest cover. Indian govt. just announced that it plans to build 24 ‘green cities‘ as part of the development.These type of initiative should be welcomed from every corner of society.
2. Technological Advancement: Agriculture is largest consumer of water. we should use some technical means so that crops can watered with less amount of water. like Overhead irrigation , in this technique we can use fountain for irrigation, minimizing losses due to evaporation, runoff drainage while maximizing production. and in case of water pollution we should have water treatment plant for waste water from industrial as well as domestic use. We can use desalination(at lower cost) for producing Drinking water.
3. Rain Water Management Techniques: Rain water is also a larger source of water. But we do not have enough storage and management system. There are various techniques which can be use for rain water storage e.g. Rain Water Harvesting , Water shed Management , Rainwater tank , Dew well . etc. with the help of these techniques we can store rain water and then we can use is for domestic purpose. In Rajasthan Ramon Magsaysay Award winner "WATERMAN OF INDIA" Rajendra Singh has implemented water harvesting with the help of his NGO "Tarun Bharat Sangh". Rain Water Harvesting has been made compulsory for each house by Delhi govt. . These type of steps should be taken not only on state level but up to central and international level.
4. Controlled and Efficient use of water: Making people aware of this fact is imperative that Water is gradually becoming a scarce resource. So please do not waste it. in villages as well as cities in each house where water is in abundance they do not mind to waste it. For domestic purposes people use water more than they actually need. they always leave their tap open. Do not think that this small amount of water wasted by will not make any change. because if every one stop doing this careless job then i am quite sure that it will make a change. We should teach our child importance of this life giving resource and told them not to waste it.In my childhood i used to watch Shaktimaan (A tv serial) and in one of the show, Shaktimaan warned not to waste water. and from that day i stopped this practice. What i want to say is we will have to make everyone aware of this fact.
5. Environment Protection: Water is a natural resource.We live in this environment so it is our duty to protect our environment. water pollution is major cause for environment degradation. Due to pollution river water can not be used for domestic purpose . sea water is also getting polluted. because of this many people are not able to get water. due to Global warming temperature of earth is increasing , increasing demand of water but supply is not met. so it is disturbing water cycle. so we will have to protect our environment to save water.
Finally i want to say one thing that this earth is our home. No one own these natural resources . Its our responsibility to use and maintain them . And pass to the next generation whatever we got form our ancestor. So use them efficiently. Our policies should be aimed at "Sustainable Development".
One can have a question that in earth we have a lot of water then why is it a scarce resource . yes we have 71% water. but do not forget that we have only 2.5% fresh water in form of ground water and glaciers.
So now another Question may be , why this water is going to be scarce. when we have water cycle(when we use water it goes back to atmosphere and then again comes back to earth). Here are the various reasons that are making water a scarce resource
CAUSES
1. Over Exploitation:: For proper use Water Extraction rate must be equal to Ground water Recharge rate. But today it is very high. because of which water table is going down. with the help of newer technology we are extracting water at rapid pace. we over utilize water for Agriculture (biggest consumer of water) and Industrial use.
2. Concretion:: Now every one is looking for a better society a better place to live. We want development. but we forgot one thing i.e Sustainable Development. We are building mega city , high buildings , metro, in the name of development . off course these are development but by doing this we are covering the earth with concrete. in big city it is difficult to find soil.Because of concretion rain do not go to soil and ground water do not get recharged. And therefore water table goes down.
3. Lack of awareness and civic sense :: I have seen people who can have there work done in 1 bucket of water but they are using 3 bucket water. because they do not know the value of this life giving resource. we always left our water tap open , wasting water. These type of wastes are decreasing the availability of water.
4. Water Pollution:: Water pollution is another major problem. In our country most of the rivers are polluted . and these rivers are source of water for a larger portion of our population. Out of India's 3,119 towns and cities, just 209 have partial treatment facilities, and only 8 have full wastewater treatment facilities (WHO 1992). 114 cities dump untreated sewage and partially cremated bodies directly into the Ganges river. Downstream, the untreated water is used for drinking, bathing, and washing. This situation is typical of many rivers in India as well as other developing countries.
we have National Water Commission and Center Pollution Control Board. but are they are not doing their job. if they were then why is a Member-Secretary of the Government of India’s Center Pollution Control Board is sitting on fast for "Save Ganga Aandolan"?
6. Deforestation: From the last decade we are witnessing low rainfall and late monsoon . Trees are the very essential for completion of water cycle and for rain also. Due to the Deforestation rainfall is decreasing day by day. It is estimated that almost half of the tropical forest have been destroyed. And abundance of forest are directly proportional to rail fall. i.e. if Deforestation will continue at present rate then after couple of decade we will see earth with no water.
7. Population: National Geographic studies estimate that 1.8 billion people around the world will live in "extreme water scarcity" by 2025. Due to increase in population, consumption of water is also increasing.
SOLUTIONS
Now after understanding the seriousness of problem described above. we should not just discuss the problem and leave it on its own or Government. we should come forward and bring a solution and start implementing it . Starting from individual level to mass level up to global level. Following option may be the solution to the problem up to some extent but these solution are not full fledged. For a full prove solution we need support and help from every individual dependent on this resource.
1. Plantation and Building Green City: Plantation is very necessary if we want a environment friendly society. So if we are building big city by removing forest then this is not a Sustainable Development. we should develop infrastructure side by side increasing area under forest cover. Indian govt. just announced that it plans to build 24 ‘green cities‘ as part of the development.These type of initiative should be welcomed from every corner of society.
2. Technological Advancement: Agriculture is largest consumer of water. we should use some technical means so that crops can watered with less amount of water. like Overhead irrigation , in this technique we can use fountain for irrigation, minimizing losses due to evaporation, runoff drainage while maximizing production. and in case of water pollution we should have water treatment plant for waste water from industrial as well as domestic use. We can use desalination(at lower cost) for producing Drinking water.
3. Rain Water Management Techniques: Rain water is also a larger source of water. But we do not have enough storage and management system. There are various techniques which can be use for rain water storage e.g. Rain Water Harvesting , Water shed Management , Rainwater tank , Dew well . etc. with the help of these techniques we can store rain water and then we can use is for domestic purpose. In Rajasthan Ramon Magsaysay Award winner "WATERMAN OF INDIA" Rajendra Singh has implemented water harvesting with the help of his NGO "Tarun Bharat Sangh". Rain Water Harvesting has been made compulsory for each house by Delhi govt. . These type of steps should be taken not only on state level but up to central and international level.
4. Controlled and Efficient use of water: Making people aware of this fact is imperative that Water is gradually becoming a scarce resource. So please do not waste it. in villages as well as cities in each house where water is in abundance they do not mind to waste it. For domestic purposes people use water more than they actually need. they always leave their tap open. Do not think that this small amount of water wasted by will not make any change. because if every one stop doing this careless job then i am quite sure that it will make a change. We should teach our child importance of this life giving resource and told them not to waste it.In my childhood i used to watch Shaktimaan (A tv serial) and in one of the show, Shaktimaan warned not to waste water. and from that day i stopped this practice. What i want to say is we will have to make everyone aware of this fact.
5. Environment Protection: Water is a natural resource.We live in this environment so it is our duty to protect our environment. water pollution is major cause for environment degradation. Due to pollution river water can not be used for domestic purpose . sea water is also getting polluted. because of this many people are not able to get water. due to Global warming temperature of earth is increasing , increasing demand of water but supply is not met. so it is disturbing water cycle. so we will have to protect our environment to save water.
Finally i want to say one thing that this earth is our home. No one own these natural resources . Its our responsibility to use and maintain them . And pass to the next generation whatever we got form our ancestor. So use them efficiently. Our policies should be aimed at "Sustainable Development".
