NEED TO ADDRESS WATER POLLUTION ISSUES ON PRIORIOTY

               

Recently there was headline news regarding the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report of harmful bacteria (E. coli) found in drinking water samples collected from water taps of 49 stations in 2022-23 and 56 stations in 2023-24. 

It is good that the Minister of Railways directed the authorities to take corrective measures to put in place a new tank to tap filtration system and a monitoring mechanism at the Railway Board level for ensuring the supply of good quality water. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to know about the findings of the CAG report of 2024-25 and 2025-26 regarding the water supply quality at thousands of stations. 

Actually, all organisations – public and private both, should have a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for periodical exercise of water quality audit in their work places to ensure provision of good quality of water. 

Similar or more frequent and serious exercises must be undertaken for ‘Nal Se Jal Yojana’ of the Central Government.

Monsoon is still on in some parts of our country with consequent deteriorating flood situation usually in states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Odisha, to name a few. It's an open fact that during this period the water pollution becomes worse in many parts of the country. The pathetic state of the huge population suffering from water borne diseases are seen to be believed particularly in urban slums and rural areas. 

The pertinent question has been whether water pollution finds a priority position particularly in the agenda of state governments at the execution level? No doubt, it is shown to be high on its agenda on paper and ironically in many cases huge money allocated and spent too. Yes, the concerned agencies looking into the utilisation of public money must look into it meticulously, as it is directly connected with all living beings.

Before proceeding further, we may go through some facts related to water pollution in our country. It is true that 

1) the poor and the disadvantaged section of society are the worst hit by water pollution. These people, which comprises a sizable portion of our population, have to use unclean and unsafe water. Obviously, various water borne diseases like Diarrhea, Cholera, Malaria, and Filariasis affect them most resulting in large number of deaths every year; 2) significant number of communicable diseases are also related to polluted water; 3) most of our rivers including Ganga and Yamuna are still polluted as sewage, trash, food, animal remains and industrial wastes containing toxic chemicals are dumped in large quantities despite more than one initiatives taken particularly by the Central Government; 4) oxygen content in water is depleting very fast; 5) due to ground water contamination as a result of interaction between groundwater and unclean surface water, situation has become further grave.

The above list is indicative of the growing menace of water pollution and its disastrous impact on a very large population of the country. This naturally demands urgent corrective measures including complete stoppage of dumping industrial wastes, sewage and plastic wastes into water bodies by all concerned in an integrated and concerted manner. 

Interestingly, WHO (World Health Organisation) says very rightly that ‘when water comes from improved and more accessible sources, people spend less time and effort physically collecting it, meaning they can be productive in other ways. This can also result in greater personal safety and reducing musculoskeletal disorders by reducing the need to make long or risky journeys to collect and carry water. Better water sources also mean less expenditure on health, as people are less likely to fall ill and incur medical costs and are better able to remain economically productive. With children particularly at risk from water-related diseases, access to improved sources of water can result in better health, and hence better school attendance, with positive long-term consequences for their lives.’ 

Precisely speaking, there is an urgent need to address water pollution issues on priority. Yes, the overall cost of making provision of clean water to one and all in the country by smart and sustainable management of water pollution is lesser than the value of multiple health and life-related benefits. 

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)     

# Published in my Sunday Column of "Morning India" daily.

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