2013 is Water Conservation Year
Updated: May 10, 2013 05:33:12pm
New Delhi, May 10 (KNN) The government yesterday approved a proposal to declare 2013 as Water Conservation Year to offset rapid depletion of water.
During the year, a host of programmes will be launched by the Water Resources Ministry to enhance awareness about the need to conserve the natural resource, among the general public particularly children, said a media report.
It is ironic that India which is home to more than 18 per cent of the world’s population has only four per cent of the world’s renewable water resources.
Significantly, the demand for water will undoubtedly increase, considering the growing population and the rising needs. In fact, research indicates that per capita availability of water is likely to go down from 1545 cubic meter per annum in 2011 to 1341 meter per annum in 2025.
The key objective of the National Water Mission which is one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change is water conservation. Its action plan includes conservation, minimising wastage and ensuring equitable distribution within states through an integrated water resources development and management.
The country also has a growing ground water crisis, adding to its woes.
One of the major challenges to India’s socio-economic development is water security. Other than being contaminated, ground water levels in India are on a decline, despite measures to replenish the same.
According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), 55 per cent of the wells in India have registered declining trend of ground water level. Surprisingly, wells in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have registered highest declining trend of ground water level during 2007-2012.
Data shows that 85 per cent of wells in Delhi 74 per cent of wells in Andhra Pradesh have registered a decline in ground water level during 2007-2012, the figures acquired after 11024 wells were analyses during the pre-monsoon period of 2007-2012.
According to the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi’s depletion of ground water is attributed to its huge built up area. With supply not reaching many areas, ground water resources are over exploited.
The situation is alarming considering that ground water accounts for over 65 per cent of irrigation water and 85 per cent of drinking water.
With water level declining at the rate of one meter a year, experts feel that more efforts need to be taken to replenish ground water, including rainwater harvesting. (KNN)
During the year, a host of programmes will be launched by the Water Resources Ministry to enhance awareness about the need to conserve the natural resource, among the general public particularly children, said a media report.
It is ironic that India which is home to more than 18 per cent of the world’s population has only four per cent of the world’s renewable water resources.
Significantly, the demand for water will undoubtedly increase, considering the growing population and the rising needs. In fact, research indicates that per capita availability of water is likely to go down from 1545 cubic meter per annum in 2011 to 1341 meter per annum in 2025.
The key objective of the National Water Mission which is one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change is water conservation. Its action plan includes conservation, minimising wastage and ensuring equitable distribution within states through an integrated water resources development and management.
The country also has a growing ground water crisis, adding to its woes.
One of the major challenges to India’s socio-economic development is water security. Other than being contaminated, ground water levels in India are on a decline, despite measures to replenish the same.
According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), 55 per cent of the wells in India have registered declining trend of ground water level. Surprisingly, wells in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have registered highest declining trend of ground water level during 2007-2012.
Data shows that 85 per cent of wells in Delhi 74 per cent of wells in Andhra Pradesh have registered a decline in ground water level during 2007-2012, the figures acquired after 11024 wells were analyses during the pre-monsoon period of 2007-2012.
According to the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi’s depletion of ground water is attributed to its huge built up area. With supply not reaching many areas, ground water resources are over exploited.
The situation is alarming considering that ground water accounts for over 65 per cent of irrigation water and 85 per cent of drinking water.
With water level declining at the rate of one meter a year, experts feel that more efforts need to be taken to replenish ground water, including rainwater harvesting. (KNN)
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