By Dr Anil Kumar Mishra, (Bacteriologist), Delhi Jal Board, Govt of NCT Delhi-
Water is an essential and vital component of life and required for performing different type of metabolic activities in all type of living organisms. In present scenario, water scarcity and contamination (physical, chemical microbiological, radiological contaminants) are major problem in India and worldwide. Due to rapid growth of population, urbanization, industrialization and agriculture activities, water resources are under stress and gap between supply and demand (required for various activities like bathing, cooking drinking, sanitation, irrigation, industries etc.) increasing every year. Different national and international agencies are issuing directions/guidelines for conservation of water resources, avoid polluting water bodies/ ground water, sustainably use of water etc. Climate change also playing pivotal role for increasing stress on water resources. Worldwide, a significant number of population not getting sufficient quantity of potable and wholesome drinking water (as per norms), resulting theirs health related complexity are increasing due to different type of pollutants.
Water is central hub for all type of economies (agriculture, industries etc.), required for sustaining life on earth and other activities. Without water, we cannot get anything like food, oxygen, shelter etc. It is also playing important role in climate change/ maintaining environment. In the view of above facts, various agencies like Government, NGOs, regulatory organizations, public and other stakeholder making their best efforts to manage it in useful manners, so that sufficient quantity of good quality of water (potable and wholesome) may be available for everything like plants, animals and others activities like agriculture and other industries. In present scenario, Ground as well as surface water pollution is a serious issue and this problem must be sorted out for the survival of life on earth.
In conclusion, I would like to make suggestion to all the stakeholders that every one respect water and its resources; as water is 100% natural and any substitute is not available for it. Use it judicially and sustainably, so that our future generations may get sufficient quantity of potable and wholesome drinking water. If we may not maintain it properly, significant number of population may not get good quality of water in coming decades. Everyone focus for proper conservation and management of water, adopt various technologies required for reduction of NRW, adaptation of rain water harvesting, follow different R’s related to water etc.
