It is a grim reality that millions of Indians queue up every day at public taps for one of life’s most precious commodities - Water.
Severe water shortages have already led to a growing number of conflicts across the country. Sewage and wastewater from rapidly growing cities and effluents from industries have turned many rivers, including major ones, into fetid sewers. Estimates reveal that by 2020, India’s demand for water will exceed all sources of supply. Not withstanding the catastrophic consequences of indiscriminate pumping of groundwater, government actions, including the provision of free power, have exacerbated rather than addressed the problem. Right here in Bangalore, with water scarcity hitting new levels each summer in the city, adopting sustainable methods of water management becomes crucial for future growth of the city.
What is worse, this problem isn’t confined just to our country. The world water crisis is one of the largest public health issues of our time, and is created by a confluence of factors including climate and geography, lack of water systems and infrastructure, and inadequate sanitation. Currently, a third of the Earth’s population lives in “water stressed” countries, and that number is expected to rise dramatically over the next two decades. More people die each year from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war.
The poor are the ones who suffer most. Water shortages can mean long walks to fetch water, high prices to buy it, food insecurity and disease from drinking dirty water. The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children. Without question, the world water crisis condemns billions of people to a perpetual struggle to survive at the subsistence level.
In 2005, then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking-water, sanitation and basic health care.” With this goal in mind, the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Water and Sanitation started The Water for Life Decade on World Water Day 2005. The theme is a call to reach out beyond the community and to link with worldwide efforts of international agencies, non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and the community at large, not just to highlight the magnitude of the problem, but also to bring all stake holders together to apply solutions that work.
In India, there is clearly an urgent need for action. Climate change projections show that India’s water problems are only likely to worsen. With the rapid melting of glaciers, especially in the western Himalayas, India will need to gear up to tackle the increasing devastation caused by both droughts and floods. New infrastructure needs to be built, which can aid in transforming this water from a curse to a blessing. In addition, massive investments are needed in sewers and wastewater treatment plants to protect peopleâs health and improve the environment.
While creative technological solutions are certainly needed, the biggest challenges faced by those involved in this initiative will be to ensure that the poorest people have access to clean water and safe sanitation, to help communities find sustainable ways to manage and pay for water, and to develop acceptable ways of introducing safe latrines and of encouraging good hygiene practices.
Until some solution is found, lets you and me try to do our bit to restrict our own usage of water. Don’t leave that tap running while you turn around to talk to someone. Limit the amount of water you use to wash your car or water your lawns. Donât leave your tanks to fill while youâre out running your errands for the day. The amount of water that is wasted when it overflows can be used to provide drinking water for five people or more.
The time to act is now. Help save water. Or you might be left with none. If you would like to; please participate in the Campaign to save water in and around Bangalore. For those who would not like to join the campaign can vote give your opinion below.
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