We mustn’t allow india to dry up

We mustn’t allow india to dry up

GoI must push for water efficiency.

Chennai has virtually run dry, while many other parts of urban and rural India find themselves reeling under a water crisis. Water woes are neither new nor limited to the Tamil Nadu capital. Studies project that by next year, some 20-odd cities will run out of groundwater. Climate change, aggressive land-use change, improper urban planning and construction have contributed to the water emergency in the country. Addressing this crisis will require strong policy frameworks and concerted effort by all stakeholders — people, industry, scientists, policymakers, and governments at all levels. For starters, GoI must focus on water conservation, protection of water bodies, bumping up distribution networks and make rainwater harvesting a mandatory feature in new housing.

Delayed monsoons, preceded by a deficient monsoon last year, and depleting groundwater levels have exacerbated the crisis. Two-third of reservoirs are running below normal water levels. Rising temperatures, poor urban planning resulting in filling up, and constructing on, wetlands, a total disregard towards hydrological plans in the planning process, and the disuse of traditional water conservation knowledge have contributed to this alarming situation. The situation will worsen, with water demand expected to double by 2030, if tackling water on a war footing is not taken immediately. Water shortage has dangerous implications for all spheres of the economic activity. It will turn the clock back on many social gains as well, with girls, in particular, being forced to drop out of school to fetch water in rural India. It will impede the sanitation revolution as well.

In his radio address on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called individuals, communities and companies to come together to take action. Government intervention to promote water efficiency and reduce wastage is immediately needed. There is no silver bullet for this looming crisis. If people fail to realise the intensity of the water crisis India is facing — and fail to be galvanised into action — there are bound to be many more Chennais.