Around 200 million people worldwide are facing a drinking water crisis. Lack of clean water results in the death of 1,000 children every day. While humans need about 3 liters of drinking water daily, the scarcity of water leads to several health issues. There is a deep connection between life, living beings, and water, as highlighted by water conservation expert, Padma Shri Umashankar Pandey. He was speaking at a press conference held at the Mumbai Press Club regarding the 7th Indian Culture Festival.
The festival, organized by Bharat Vikas Sangam and Vikas Academy, will be held from January 29 to February 6 in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. In the event, Pandey emphasized that according to the United Nations report, the number of people with mobile phones exceeds the amount of drinkable water available on Earth. He highlighted that water conservation is deeply rooted in ancient scriptures and Vedas, considering water not only as a national resource but also a priceless gift from nature. The essence of life, including plants and animals, is inseparable from water.
Only 2.5% of Earth’s Water is Drinkable
Pandey further explained that despite 71% of the Earth being covered by water, only 2.5% of it is drinkable. To combat the water crisis, people need to respect water and conserve it. Instead of relying solely on government measures, individuals must take responsibility at their level to save water. As the population grows, the demand for water increases, but water sources are depleting.
He also mentioned that millions of people from rural areas, especially in India, are migrating to cities due to the water crisis. Countries like Syria, Jordan, the Philippines, Sudan, and South Sudan are facing severe conflicts over water scarcity. He traced the onset of the rural water crisis to the 1960s when people transitioned from using well water to tap water. Over-extraction of groundwater has led to diminishing water quality and declining water levels, causing traditional sources like wells and ponds to dry up.
Pandey called for large-scale efforts to revive these traditional water sources, revealing that 60% of ponds exist only on paper and 90% of wells are dry. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges.
