Tapping the groundwater reserve has become the most preferred route in rural as well as urban areas. There is misplaced optimism that there is huge groundwater reserve. The fact is this resource is depleting fast and there is a need to check its use and recharge the same. Pricing would be an effective mechanism to secure desired results. Besides, industry and agriculture sectors too need to exercise control over the same. As of now with state after state offering subsidised power and with some even going to the extent of providing free power, farmers have the tendency to consume as much as possible—and the situation isn't going to get better unless drastic measures are put in place.
Branching out
The debate veers to this point of view that water management is the key to the entire issue of getting the best out of available resources. Urban and rural areas can do their bit in getting over this crisis.
While in the urban areas it is leaking pipelines and poor distribution that has been responsible for much of the problem, in rural areas it is the outdated irrigation system that's been responsible for this mess. In urban areas, the shift to rain water harvesting has made a steady progress. While most of the new structures have incorporated roof water harvesting, even the old structures need to incorporate the same.
It hasn't remained elusive
As stories about water scarcity do the rounds, there have been instances where water has been made available during the driest months and areas, which have remained dry for long, water has been discovered.
One Laporia village in Rajasthan has put in use the 'Chokha System' wherein rainwater is trapped and then used to replenish groundwater. This makes sure the water is made available during the driest months. In another territory of Andhra there has been sudden spurting of water from areas that have remained dry for years together. In Mukundapur in Rangareddy district of Andhra, a well and a farming plot that was dry for 15 years there has been sudden spurt of water.
Staying in the Groove
• Flaunting success about easy accessibility to water is a theme that resonates well with mofussil areas as well - definitely a break from the past
• Israel is one state where the need to judiciously use this resource has wide acceptability; the pricing pattern has done wonders
• From 200 mm to 11,000 mm rainfall India as a nation of contrast has to be conversant with water management
• The fact that continuous supply of water (provided appropriate technology is in place) has long-term benefits needs to be driven home.