We all know that water is indispensable to life. Yet, water sources, including groundwater, are often contaminated by pollutants such as sewage, industrial waste and agricultural runoff. Five million people die from the consequences of lack of water, malnutrition and inadequate water affiliated hygiene every year and this crisis will only intensify with the growth in population and pressure on resources. Environmental pollution and climate change is causing decreasing amounts of rainfall with the result that the reservoirs of drinking water are no longer able to fill up sufficiently. This alarming scenario has caused the government to take steps towards the effective management
of water resources in the country, laying special emphasis on rain water harvesting and its benefits.
Informs Vincent H Pala, Minister of State for Water Resources, “The National Action Plan on Climate Change was launched by the Prime Minister in June 2008. Eight National Missions have been envisaged under it which inter-alia, include a National Water Mission. The objectives of the National Water Mission are the conservation of water, minimising its waste and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within states through integrated water resource development and management.”
In short, the government is trying hard to promote waste water management, the re-use of water as well as rainwater harvesting. According to Pala, sophisticated technology can be utilised to treat sewage and purify water, making it potable for the general population. For instance, Israel which has implemented effective storage technologies to harness rain water, has practically reduced all sorts of losses and ensured greater self sufficiency. “The over exploitation of ground water by industries, agriculture and general households is also a matter of concern and efforts should be made to curtail this,” adds Pala.
The Central government has already taken up the issue and the National Perspective Plan envisages the interlinking of rivers so that the surplus flood water can be diverted to deficient regions. The Ministry of Water Resources is aggressively promoting rainwater harvesting and various means of ground water recharge and demonstrative schemes have been taken up by the Central Ground Water Board.
Says AK Bajaj, Chairman Central Water Commission who believes that the scale and magnitude of the water problem in India is huge and is compounded by centre-state differences, owing to the fact that water is basically a state subject, “The Centre cannot do much on its own and can only provide time-to-time guidelines and financial assistance to states to ensure the optimum utilisation of water resources in the country.” Out of the total 4,000 billion cubic metres of precipitation that the country receives every year, unfortunately only 1,133 BCM is effectively utilised. The challenge, therefore, lies in redirecting the water from surplus areas to deficit areas through effective programmes aimed at curtailing this variability. According to Bajaj, an extensive study has been carried out in this regard and 30 inter-basin transfer links in the country have been proposed but centre-state cooperation remains a key factor in the successful implementation of this programme. “Aquifers in the ground are being used as an important solution to the problem in India, which has one of the lowest storage capacities in the world,” adds Bajaj.
Says Ramesh Negi, CEO, Delhi Jal Board, “By the year 2020, the population of Delhi will reach a staggering 24 million and along with it, the need for water will rise from the current 830 MGD to more than 1100 MGD.” The need of the hour, therefore, is to reduce water waste in all major metros. For example, it has been found that out of the 825 MGD of water being supplied in Delhi, 40 per cent of the supply suffers from technical losses and 25 per cent is unbilled water. The lack of effective policies to ensure the safe upkeep, repair and maintenance of pipelines and meters in the capital is a major problem.
“All sections of society have to join hands to address the challenges the water sector faces to ensure that a water crisis does not overtake us,” says Pala adding, “Every objective to be achieved must keep the environment in mind.’’