Water has been known to humans since their existence and its importance has also been recognized, but has it been valued?
If water was valued and honoured the way it should have been, then it wouldn't be facing the problems it is nowadays! Water scarcity, water quality deteriorating, water sources disappearing, water level going down every year, and many such situations which water is facing today is due to the improper management & maintenance and not to forget the selfish 'water is only for me' behaviour of humans. This very behaviour has led to a decline in not only quantity but also in the quality of water everywhere. There is a 'shifting tragedy' when it comes to the continuous decline in water quality & quantity and also in the sources. Previously, it was just the construction & maintenance of dug wells happening which shifted to tube wells and then to bore wells; now, there are structures (rainwater harvesting structures) being made so that water is available in all these different types of wells.
The ‘trending crisis’ of water
Water is becoming precious with each passing second; there are articles, posts and videos, available on social platforms which show the increasing decline in the water in several parts of the world. It seems like there is a race amongst different countries titled as ‘the most exploitative water country’ and India is nowhere behind in this race! With each passing year, there are reports showing the decline in the groundwater levels, quality of water, rainfall, number of water sources and the increasing stress on the existing water sources, or, to speak in the language of internet-these are ‘trending’!! What is the reason behind all this?
The answer lies within human society. If we have a look at the water that is being used by us, the humans, then you’ll see the amount that is actually necessary and the amount which is just going wasted. The people who have access to a huge amount of water, often use it where it is required the least, like in gardens, for washing cars, private swimming pools, etc. Apart from their daily requirements of domestic use and drinking water; these people never think about those who don’t even have access to proper drinking water! Leave the other kinds of daily use. This kind of ‘social stratification’ of water has led to the inequality in not only the water availability but also in the suffering when water is not available; it is the poor or the ones who don’t have any kind of power (economic, political or social).
We humans have only come with the concept that any water which is not being used by us and going into the sea or any other water body, is waste. Why do we term it as ‘waste’? If it is not being used by us then why not say that it is ‘lost’? It might be used by some other organisms or help in the maintenance of the water cycle! After all, the water going to the sea or any other water body like rivers helps in maintaining the water cycle only. If all the water which is available to us in any form-rain water, surface water or groundwater is completely exploited then, there will be no water cycle only! There has to be a change in the behaviour of humans regarding water use. The question that we should be asking ourselves is not what we can do but how can we do something that doesn’t degrade the water in any way anymore and where should we be doing this?
How do we bring a change in the current water status? How do we fight this crisis? What should be done and what should be avoided?
These questions need to be kept in focus and then a healthy dialogue should happen between the people who have access to good quantity and quality of water and the ones who don’t, the researchers who have knowledge about the different kinds of water problems present in different parts of the country and what are the possible solutions to those water problems. A series of change has to come up and it should not involve only the younger generation; water is used by everyone-whether young or old. Participation should be present from every sector, community and age group.
“नदी, नहर, कुँए, तालाब,
सबमें ही हूं मैं।
छल-छल करके बहता रहा,
पर क्या कल के लिए हूं मैं?”
सबमें ही हूं मैं।
छल-छल करके बहता रहा,
पर क्या कल के लिए हूं मैं?”
We should not focus on making a better and water secure ‘next generation’ but make the present generation better which will guide the coming generations. Change is not something that can happen overnight and takes time and efforts, but once a target is set then nothing is impossible to achieve!
- Shruti Singh
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