P K Nanda
The World Water Day is celebrated all over the world every year on 22nd of March with the aim to draw attention towards the global water crisis, in other words handling the most Precious water resource in the most irresponsible manner. On this day the people and different organizations celebrate the World Water day by deliberating upon the necessary steps to tackle the water crisis and its judicious use.
Today we shall deliberate on the theme topic i.e. Ground Water- Making the invisible visible. The ground water resources are very vital resources and most of the water required in different sectors is fulfilled by these resources. As per the statistics available the ground water provides half of the drinking water to the pubic worldwide, about 40 percent of water for irrigation and about 33 percent of water supply required for industries.
At this particular junction, it becomes the duty of the local administration to fix the responsibility that who are the agencies responsible for making the most precious water resources invisible and how this invisibility has happened to the ground water. The over drawl of water and its misuse for the last so many decades is the main root cause for its invisibility. The ever increasing population all over the world and over extraction of ground water are the major factors which are regularly reported in many parts of the world.
The pressure on ground water is due to the human activities which includes population explosion as well as urbanization (legal/ illegal)coupled with the climate variability which mounts pressure on invisible groundwater. In addition to it, we know a very little about the state and current trends of the World’s groundwater resources which is the world’s largest distributed reservoir of fresh water i.e. the ground water which plays a central role in sustaining ecosystems enabling human adaptation to climate variability and changes.
Groundwater is a common-pool resource and is often utilized at an individual level without viewing of the overall impact on the reservoir because neither the use nor its impacts are immediately visible. Therefore the aquifers need to be governed through a process of shared responsibility and public participation, information availability and transparency about rule of law. Otherwise, mining and pollution of groundwater will continue. The various kinds of ecosystems depend on groundwater.
It is pertinent to mention here that groundwater is an essential part of any ecosystem-based on adaptation of measures like green infrastructure or a nature-based solution. The improvement of groundwater quality, in conjunction with improvement in sanitation and personal hygiene should be the main strategy to reduce water-borne diseases.. Regular groundwater monitoring, vulnerability assessment, protection from point-source to diffuse pollution, and pollutant removal, are some of the necessary actions required for preserving and improving groundwater quality for our general public health.
As already stated that about two third of all abstracted groundwater is used in the agriculture sector and global food production is increasingly relying on groundwater but over- extraction and depletion of groundwater eventually have led to decline in food production, about 1/4 of the energy used globally is spent on food production and supply, including groundwater pumping. To overcome the energy crisis, the Solar power pumps should be used.
Groundwater is the main source of water supply in many cities around the world and increasingly under a pressure due to continuous urbanization/ planned or unplanned, climate changes and inadequate water management; for example, groundwater depletion and land subsidence are serious problems in many cities. The pumping timings in the Mega cities need to be reduced and compensated by urban/rural rainwater harvesting and rural-urban water transfers.
Now at this particular junction when the ground water resource have depleted due to over drawl and to accommodate the demand of the ever increasing population because of unplanned urbanization without considering its pros and cons on the future generation. All these factors have made these resources invisible and no attention was paid to its recoupment. The Trees planted many-many decades ago had been uprooted recklessly to become rich overnight which led to the exposing of the top surface of soil, the shrubs, grass lands were also removed which led to the mass movement and made difficult for the rain water to percolate back into the soil which was the main source of recharging of groundwater.
Now, as per the theme for making the invisible groundwater visible, it becomes the duty and moral responsibility of every Organisation, stakeholders and general public/every individual to adopt the effective measures so that the most precious water is judiciously conserved / preserved and is also recouped.
Action to be adopted
*The rain water harvesting should be encouraged in Rural as well as Urban areas so that the Rain water which goes wasted is utilized. As already appealed number of times that it should be made mandatory for every Govt. building / commercial/residential flats and individuals households to have a provision in the construction plan for rain water harvesting. For the encouragement of Rain water harvesting no construction plan should be approved without its provision.
* The construction of check dams across nallahs in Rural areas be encouraged so that the Rain water which goes as a runoff is checked. It will not only recharge the ground water but also improve the climatic conditions of the areas.
* Plantation of more and more trees on the hills slopes and in planes be encouraged. So that the run of the rain water is checked. The shrubs and grass lands be also protected and provided for the better seepage for recharging of ground water.
In addition to the beautification of the areas the tree plantation around Govt. buildings, religious places and important Govt. structures be initiated vigorously by planting more and more trees.
* More and more green belts should be created/provided on the bunds of the Rivers/Nallahs and along National highway which will not only beautify the areas but will also improve the environment which shall ultimately results in providing healthy environment.
* To minimize pressure on Ground water every industry owner should have its own filtration plant inside the premises. This will not only check the wastage of water but will also reduce pressure on ground water
* In The irrigation sector where there is sufficient wastage of water, the farmers at the tail end who are deprived of the water facilities be facilitated by providing them with solar pumps so that the water collected in near by ponds is used for irrigation. This will overcome the energy crises also.
At the end, it is once again requested to general masses to use water judiciously so that the wastage of water is avoided and surroundings are kept healthy. The water can also be saved by adopting the simple ways at our houses.
* Taking bath by using shower.
* Using mug and bucket for washing utensils and cars.
* Using Mug and bucket for brushing teeth and shaving.
* Close the tap – not in use.
* Reuse the used water to clean fruits and vegetables to water the plants.
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