RAIN WATER HARVESTING – A MUST FOR OUR SURVIVAL

We all know, water is life; a priceless gift of nature and we can’t think of our future without water. Water is an extremely vital resource. It is very critical for sustainable socio-economic-environmental development and very essential for the health and well-being of all creatures on this planet. As such, the wise people and experts are unanimous in their opinion that water is the driving force of nature; the water cycle and life cycle are one and clean water is like medicine for all. Absolutely correct.

The Southwest Monsoon has arrived and it is raining, of course not uniformly everywhere as has been the well-known characteristics of Monsoon. Anyway, the farmers are happy and preparing for cultivation of Kharif crops. Children of both cities and villages alike are equally happy and enjoying this season for obvious reasons. Nevertheless, if we examine this season which endows us with so much rain water, from the water management angle, we are sure to be disappointed. Isn’t it?

It’s all knowing that due to global warming and other climatic changes together with erratic and lesser rainfall during Monsoon, there is reduced water availability which is found to intensify not only Inter-State River Disputes but also the general water related inconveniences and conflicts in the societies at large. Naturally, this may threaten the normal public life and may seriously impact our reported economic growth story. Interestingly, some experts say that if we can harvest even 25-30 percent of rain water and conserve it properly, that would be sufficient to meet our normal water requirement. Can’t this be ensured?

Can you believe that there were millions of ponds and tanks besides thousands of lakes and reservoirs in different states even in the nineteenth and some periods of twentieth century in our country? Obviously, these were the main rain water conservation spots. Sadly, these water bodies were not maintained and hence dried up or were illegally captured by powerful groups. This all happened and still happening in some places due to apathy and failure of the then and the present administrative machinery of the states. 

Now the situation in our country has come to this pass that we are facing dual problems at the same time - water shortage and severe drought on the one hand and blatant water wastage and floods on the other. Even two days of torrential rain in places like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata or even in Ranchi, Patna or Jaipur disrupts the normal life beyond imagination besides wastage of billions of litres of water. In some cities even civil life comes to almost stand still during the rainy season due to floods and water logging. Why is it so? 

Actually, the traditionally time-tested methods of conservation and management of water by civil societies were purposefully weakened and destroyed by closely connected vested interest groups to make easy money by even creating artificial shortages of water. Genuinely involved social activists say that until water shortage impacts the planners, policy makers and large sections of creamy layers of society, this life saving liquid will continue to be conserved and managed poorly.

Yes, saving and conserving water should be the primary concern for all. Although primarily the state governments should come up with suitable measures to tackle this problem, but as responsible citizens we cannot sit back and relax till they act right. It is heartening that the efforts being taken at community level in different parts of the country are highly laudable and inspiring. As such, similar initiatives and projects must be undertaken more and more in other places. Residential colonies and societies should come together to discuss how to ensure rainwater harvesting as an essential project. Undoubtedly, we can do a lot collectively for society without looking towards the government as the only option. And the first step would be to create awareness among the masses and motivate them suitably. Yes, state governments must follow the most effective governance model in this regard by always keeping in mind that life depends on water and water conservation depends heavily on them. To say,  all governments must make rainwater harvesting mandatory for all government offices and residential houses, schools, colleges, corporate offices, residential apartments and other such buildings urgently for the benefit of all.

As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion.  (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)

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