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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Managing water, an urgent need -RG Subramanyam

Managing water, an urgent need -RG Subramanyam

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published Published on Jul 24, 2014   modified Modified on Jul 24, 2014
-Deccan Herald


Water, the sustainer of all forms of life on this planet, is too precious to be dispensed with.

Water is wealth; nay water is life itself. It is the one commodity, barring air, which cannot be dispensed with. It is the sustainer of all forms of life on this planet --plant, animal and human. The demands on this precious but limited natural resource are ever increasing. A person will appreciate the value of good health only when he/she falls sick.

When our taps run dry or when the agricultural fields lie parched crying for water, we realise the inestimable value of water. The scenario of availability of water, so far as India is concerned is frightening. While the geographical area of our country is just 2 per cent of global area, our population is over 16 per cent of world population, and our water resources 4 per cent.

The availability of utilizable fresh water (both surface and ground water) is estimated to be 1086 billion cubic meters, which is just not sufficient to meet the growing needs of the community. It is feared that India that is already a water stressed country, will become water scarce one by 2025. It is therefore incumbent on us first to spread the message about the seriousness of the problem and then take appropriate steps to adopt and practice sound water management techniques to ensure availability of water for various uses.

While there are multiple options to generate power --thermal, hydro, nuclear, wind, solar --, there is no other source for water except rains and melted snow. Domestic water needs receive priority over others. People in general seem to be blissfully unaware about the urgent necessity to exercise maximum economy in its usage. Water is like any industrial product. It costs humongous amounts of money to make it available from the source to the doorstep of the user. The municipalities and the corporations should enforce several water conservation measures. Recycling of water in high-rise buildings should also be made mandatory.

Inevitable requirement

Huge quantities of water are required to be used for agricultural purposes. While the per capita water requirement for domestic use is 50 to 60 cubic meters per year, the requirement for raising crops in a hectare is 150-200 times that number or even more, depending upon the type of crop. It is a matter of great concern that in the usage of surface waters no economy worth the name is observed. Today irrigation water is charged on crop-area basis. The irrigator is allowed to use freely as much water as he wants without let or hindrance. Under the mistaken idea that ‘more is better,' he floods the cropped area with water.

This results in not only uneconomical usage of water but also turns out to be injurious to the health of the crop and the soil. If economy in water use has to be ensured, it should be metered and charged on the basis of quantity consumed. More than 60 per cent of the costly stored water is lost in transmission from the dam to the farm. Instead of spreading water to the cropped area, drip irrigation should be introduced, wherein water is applied by drips to the crops at the root zone.

This will, ensure economy in water usage, apart from ensuring better productivity and maintenance of the health of the soil. These measures would naturally entail huge outlays. There is clamour and also glamour to undertake newer and newer big projects at the instance of local politicians. Instead of taking up new projects and diversifying the meagre resources, the performance levels of the existing projects should be raised by implementing several measures as outlined above. They will give rich dividends in a very short time. Depletion of underground water resources is a matter of great concern. Building of a series of inexpensive check dams would help recharge the ground water reserves and raise the water table.

Ganga, Kosi, Brahmaputra and many other east flowing rivers and several of their tributaries happen to be rivers of sorrow. Devastating floods are a common phenomenon. While many parts of west and south India face acute water shortage and scarcity, the eastern states like Bihar and UP suffer due to recurrent floods. Inter basin transfer of surplus waters from these states to water deficient states suggests itself as a solution.

But linking of rivers is beset with numerous daunting problems --financial, technical and political. The problem is not however insurmountable. It requires a strong political will and more importantly inter-state cooperation. Water is a priceless commodity. It is said that future wars will be fought on the question of water. We have seen in our own country how bitter and strained the relations are between several riparian states, over the question of sharing of river waters. The Central government should take a leading and active part in the settlement of disputes in a just and impartial manner, keeping in mind the overall needs of the community.

(The writer is a former chief engineer, Gujarat)


Deccan Herald, 23 July, 2014, http://www.deccanherald.com/content/421229/archives.php


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