10:48 PM
Water resources sustainability crucial
India is home to 17 per cent of the world population. However, it possesses only 4 per cent of its renewable water resource. Population expansion, rapid urbanisation and developmental needs have exerted tremendous pressure on India's water availability.
From 1816 cubic metre in 2001. the per capita availability of water has reduced to 1545 cubic metre in 2011. It has been estimated by experts that it will further reduce to 1140 cubic metre by 2050. Water security, which already is a formidable challenge, is going to aggravate in the future. As (he country grapples with diminishing water resources and escalating demand, water use efficiency holds great promises. In today's context, the saying water saved is water generated is truer than ever before. The national water policy recognises the need to improve efficiency in the use of water resources. The improvement of water use efficiency requires innovative tools of promotion and incentives for efficient water utilization. At the same time, it calls for dealing with controlling water consumption through disincentives and stricter regulation. In the past, a little focus was laid primarily on augmenting the quantity of water available without giving due attention to the manner in which water will be used or managed. A paradigm shift from water resource development to integrated water resource management is now necessary. For that, existing institutions involved in service delivery have to be restructured and strengthened. By altering river flows, decreasing groundwater recharge, intensifying floods and droughts, and allowing salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers, climate change can severely affect water resources. This challenge should be met by efficient water management. Agriculture has been the biggest consumer of water in India. But due to unprecedented urbanisation, urban water demand has compelled the shift of water resources from rural to urban consumers creating an inter-sectorial rivalry. With the sources ofwatcr remaining unchanged this inter-sectorial competition over allocation of water is likely to rise in future. Water management in this sector is therefore crucial for overall sustainahilily of water resources. The irrigation system has to encourage judicious use of water. The decreasing groundwater level has to be contained by resourcing to improved water use technology and better management of aquifers. The provision of safe drinking water has become a serious development initiative around the globe. There is a significant portion of humanity which remains denied access to this basic necessity. The reach of the poor to safe drinking water has to be enhanced by developing mid-market technologies that can deliver affordable water treatment devices.
From 1816 cubic metre in 2001. the per capita availability of water has reduced to 1545 cubic metre in 2011. It has been estimated by experts that it will further reduce to 1140 cubic metre by 2050. Water security, which already is a formidable challenge, is going to aggravate in the future. As (he country grapples with diminishing water resources and escalating demand, water use efficiency holds great promises. In today's context, the saying water saved is water generated is truer than ever before. The national water policy recognises the need to improve efficiency in the use of water resources. The improvement of water use efficiency requires innovative tools of promotion and incentives for efficient water utilization. At the same time, it calls for dealing with controlling water consumption through disincentives and stricter regulation. In the past, a little focus was laid primarily on augmenting the quantity of water available without giving due attention to the manner in which water will be used or managed. A paradigm shift from water resource development to integrated water resource management is now necessary. For that, existing institutions involved in service delivery have to be restructured and strengthened. By altering river flows, decreasing groundwater recharge, intensifying floods and droughts, and allowing salt water intrusion in coastal aquifers, climate change can severely affect water resources. This challenge should be met by efficient water management. Agriculture has been the biggest consumer of water in India. But due to unprecedented urbanisation, urban water demand has compelled the shift of water resources from rural to urban consumers creating an inter-sectorial rivalry. With the sources ofwatcr remaining unchanged this inter-sectorial competition over allocation of water is likely to rise in future. Water management in this sector is therefore crucial for overall sustainahilily of water resources. The irrigation system has to encourage judicious use of water. The decreasing groundwater level has to be contained by resourcing to improved water use technology and better management of aquifers. The provision of safe drinking water has become a serious development initiative around the globe. There is a significant portion of humanity which remains denied access to this basic necessity. The reach of the poor to safe drinking water has to be enhanced by developing mid-market technologies that can deliver affordable water treatment devices.
Posted in: News 2014
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