Water is not just a commodity. It is a source of life, dignity, and equality of opportunity. It is the oil of the 21st century and as with oil, supplies of easily accessible clean water are coming under enormous strain because increasing population and growing water-water intensive life. Water is at the core of sustainable development. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.
The rapid growth of population and its growing needs has meant that per capita availability of fresh water has declined sharply from 3,000 cubic metres to 1,123 cubic metres over the past 50 years. The global average is 6,000 cubic metres. As water demand is expected to rise further, the future does not appear rosy.
It is very ironical to know that having the water resource potential of 1869.9 billion cubic meter water India is unable to fulfil the water necessities of its existing inhabitants. Presently basis the per head water accessibility India lies in the water stressed zone but it feared that the country might be trapped under the water scarcity condition by 2050 or by consecutive years.
India’s share of world population is 18 per cent while its share of global water resources is only 4 per cent. Its groundwater stock is 433 BCM. Over 80 per cent of rural and urban domestic water needs in India is served by groundwater. But per capita water availability is dipping in India. Annual per capita water availability was 6,042, 1,816, 1,545 cubic metres in 1947, 2001 and 2011 respectively and it will further decline to 1,340 and 1,140 in 2025 and 2050 respectively. Unbridled consumption of water across India, with few ideas of how to fill a yawning demand-supply gap, is leading to an unprecedented crisis.
While the supply of water has remained finite, the demand on water by all the consuming sectors has been increasing with our growing economy and population. As is the case in most emerging economies, agriculture uses about 80% of our water supplies, industry uses 8% and domestic consumption is 6%. Presently basis the per head water accessibility India lies in the water stressed zone but it feared that the country might be trapped under the water scarcity condition by 2050 or by consecutive years.
Except for Tripura, the level of groundwater development in the states of the Northeast is low. Assam has the highest groundwater potential among the north-eastern states, but only 12.83 percent of groundwater potential is currently utilized. Manipur has a total groundwater potential of 3,153.67 million cubic meters, of which 2,680.61 million cubic meters is utilizable. In Nagaland groundwater development is only 2.86 percent,
The only solution is to conserve rainwater. Many ponds, canals, dams, lakes and reservoirs should be immediately constructed to catch the rainwater and store it for drinking water. This is the only way out. Ponds, lakes and dams do not only serve to hold rainwater, but they prevent soil erosion by doing so and facilitate ground water recharge. They help sustain the vital hydrological cycle. Their drying up, on the other hand, creates bogs, which harbour unwanted sedges and other vegetation, apart from depriving water for gainful use.
The amount of existing surface water should be immediately doubled. This can best be done by a decentralised approach to water management which increases the depth or area, or both, of water storage systems. The first step is to increase the depth of those ponds, tanks, dams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs which are already being used for storing water. The second step is to increase the area of these storage facilities, while the third step is to increase the plantations around.
Causes and solutions are all available. Every person on this planet can conserve the water. All you have to do is get involved, either by following simple measures or by being creative and finding your own option. The simplest and easiest first step of being a part of the resolving water crisis would be getting educated about the water and sanitation crisis, followed by spreading this knowledge all around and telling your friends, classmates, parents and colleagues. Every household can also effectively join hands and help in this mission by turning the taps off while brushing teeth, washing utensils; by re-using the water from washing vegetables to water plants; by changing water taps at home to economy taps. Besides these there are many other things that can be done like taking initiative and forming groups to raise funds and help the areas which are not rich in water supply, volunteer and joints organisations that work on water and sanitation issues.
All we need to do is invest time, energy and show enthusiasm!
