Equitable access to India’s Natural Resource- Water for All; will it remain only a dream or will become a reality!
We know that India is one among the fastest growing economy in the world which accelerates the India’s greatness, also which in turn contributes for bigger challenges. In the present scenario the major question is how to achieve a goal for high living standards with uniform access to water, land, etc. along with competing from limited natural resources?
Present moment demands the focus to be given upon understanding the real value of our natural resources and to understand the sense of planet’s capability of producing natural resources. This will help us to understand the carrying capacity from which we can quantify the natural resources and will know how to make it uniformly accessible among the country while less exploiting it and reducing adverse impacts on the environment.
Access to Water ecosystem
It’s a well-known fact that rainwater is the purest form of water. Annual rainfall receives by India is about 1710mm but unfortunately only 6% of rainwater is stored. In rural areas there are still places where people are not getting safe and clean water. If we at least stores 80% of 1710mm, imagine what amount of water we can save for the areas that are having a very restricted accessible to water. So it’s the time to encourage the awareness about storing rainwater as well as promoting rain water harvesting structures in areas especially in those regions where the rainfalls are comparatively high.
Rainwater Harvesting in India
In general sense, water harvesting is the activity of direct collection of rainwater. The rainwater collected can be stored for direct use or can be used to recharge groundwater. Rain is the primary source of water for us as it’s the first form of fresh water in the hydrological cycle. Lakes, ponds, rivers etc. are all secondary sources of fresh water. Present times it is forgotten that-rain is the ultimate source and more focus has been given upon extracting water from secondary sources.
So, to meet the ever-increasing demand for water and complement ground water requirements in the summer RHW proves beneficial with cost effective & minimal tech option that makes it appealing to a larger section of the urban and rural populations. Also RWH has better water quality in comparison to extracted groundwater and increases infiltration of rainwater into the subsoil, which has decreased dramatically in urban areas. Extra water that remains unused from the rainwater storage, this rainwater, collected in say natural ponds or even in artificial tanks can pour back to the ground thus charging the natural aquifer which in turn increases the groundwater level. RWH can be a potential way for fulfilling the water demands among all.
References:
http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/urban/rainfall.htm
http://www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/Handbook%20on%20Rain%20water%20harvesting.pdf
http://www.hpscste.gov.in/rwh/Blue_Drop_Series_02_-_Capacity_Building.pdf
