Tackling water crisis

Sir,
It is shocking to read that India is suffering from’the worst water crisis’ in its history with about 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, as per NITI report (DE, June 15, 2018).There is no doubt that  clean drinking water is the basic need of every human being.Water is also the basic requirement of animals and plants and thus, essential to survival of life on this beautiful planet.But man, being selfish in nature, has treated the water sources ruthlessely mistakenly thinking that that his activities will have no impact on them .He has overexploited the groundwater resources, polluted lakes, rivers, seas,oceans etc leading to the severe water crisis in the world.The fact that by 2030,our country’s demand  for water is projected to be twice the available supply and that 40% population will have no access to drinking water and that 21 Indian cities including New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad will run out of water by 2020,affecting 100 million people, should make every right thinking person hear the alarming bells and realise the importance of water before it is too late.As water is central to our life, efforts must be made to priortize water conservation by implementing efficient water management system.Waste water plants must be operationalised and traditional water bodies such as ponds, lakes etc be revived.Rain water harvesting must be made mandatory for every household.
Traditional irrigation methods in  agricultural need to be replaced by modern methods such as drip and sprinkle irrigation.As concretization as a result of urban development is the main reason for decrease in ground water table, there is need to invent alternative methods to recharge and replenish ground  water.People must be made aware to conserve every drop of water by avoiding wastage of water during shaving, washing cloths/dishes, bathing, watering plants, using water efficient devices etc.At the same time, innovative methods to save and conserve water, such as making glaciers and ice stupas in cold regions must also be practised.The reckless activities of man, such as deforstation, unplanned urbanisation, over exploitation of resources etc has brought him to the brink of disaster.So corrective measures will have to be taken to undo what has been done.Plants in large number need to be planted, environmental  pollution needs to be checked to ensure life on the earth otherwise we may reach a point where nothing can be done.
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony,
Udhampur.

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