WATER AND IT'S SCARCITY

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                                                                            hrbadlavgroup@gmail.com                                                                                                          

Freshwater, which constitutes only 3% of the total water found on earth, is the most useful resource for all humans and animals. Freshwater is utilized for agriculture, industries, and drinking purposes. Water demand is increasing with the increase in population. As against this, the supply of water is limited. Even this limited supply of water would soon be depleted and rendered unusable by excessive utilization, pollution, and careless management. Moreover, all parts of the world do not possess the same quantities of water. The increasing shortage of water is leading to tensions among various nations, states, communities, and regions. Thus, it is extremely important that we have to try our best to conserve water (and particularly freshwater).

Groundwater is an extremely important source of freshwater. When a part of rainwater percolates in the ground through joints and cracks, it results in the formation of groundwater. About 60% of the groundwater is confined to the upper layers of the soil and is very useful for crops. The remaining water goes deeper into the ground and is taken out with the help of tube wells, bore wells, etc. Groundwater remains free from atmospheric influences, and therefore, is suitable for use in summers as well as winters. Agriculture accounts for 92% of the total groundwater usage in the country and it is followed by the industrial sector (5% of the total usage) and the domestic sector (3% of the total usage).





However, if the present trend of water requirement and its wastage continues, the day is not far when the whole world shall be in the throes of a critical water shortage. With regards to groundwater, there are essentially two problems –

1.      Unthoughtful and unrestrained pollution.

2.      Due to global warming, precipitation across the world has become erratic and this hinders the timely recharge of groundwater resources.

Groundwater constitutes about 95 percent of the total freshwater found on earth. Lakes, swamps, reservoirs, and rivers account for 3.5 percent and soil moisture accounts for only 1.5 percent.

In India, the availability of surface water is greater than groundwater. However, the share of tube wells has increased exponentially, indicating the increased usage of groundwater for irrigation by farmers. The dependence of irrigation on groundwater increased with the onset of the Green Revolution, which is depended on the intensive use of inputs such as water and fertilizers to boost farm production.


The following steps should be taken by the government to regulate the usage of groundwater:

·        Strengthening database management by central and state governments;

·        Adopting alternative techniques for recharge assessment where the estimates do not match the situation on the field;

·        Mapping aquifers effectively for a complete assessment of ground water resources.

·        Preventing pollution of groundwater.

·        Watershed development is a very important device to conserve water resources, increase agricultural production and stop ecological degradation.

·        Rainwater harvesting is the technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater locally in sub-surfaced water reservoirs to meet the household needs. Tamil Nadu is one state that has made it mandatory for every household to have water harvesting structures.

·        Farmers must be encouraged to use drip irrigation and other on-farm water management techniques to enhance production per drop of water.

                                                                                                                                                  - Nidhi Verma

 


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