Water woes: Respect the nectar of life

This refers to the article, “Beware of water crisis ahead” (February 15) by Kota Sriraj. The frightening picture, owing to the shrinking or disappearing of the Himalayan glaciers presented by the writer is already being played out and is totally real. There are other equally or even worse factors depleting this vital source and endangering our very existence. Burgeoning population and its unabating movement to chaotic cities, dilapidated and archaic water supply systems and uncared water losses and water quality with toxic elements like fluoride and arsenic. Besides, there are also disease-causing germs and bacteria, vast water losses during agricultural distribution and by evaporation, limitless greed for water by those who can afford or use influence to that end, and last but not the least, our unconcerned citizens, who are unaware of the gravity of the situation. Unfortunately, no serious efforts are being put to fix these problems.

We do not have to look at the scenarios in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other cities; the situation at home is no less scary. This country is not only known to be the one with enviable resources of fresh water once upon a time, but also one which has mismanaged its precious fresh water without any remorse. What then now? Shall our leaders evolve a vision to realise in the first place what have we become as a nation in respect of this resource? Will they consider water rights as human rights rather than allow it to become corporatised? Will they mobilise the entire nation and shake it to wake up from its eternal sleep? Will the strictest laws be framed and enforced to protect our waters in right earnest? And shall the vast population of this once water-worshiping nation again be respectful to its nectar of life?