Water resource management - crisis in 21st centur

L.K. Bisoyi (7221479)

English

Loughborough University Institutional Repository

28th WEDC Conference Kolkata (Calcutta), India, 2002 SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND WATER SERVICES Water Resource Management - Crisis in 21st Century Er. L. K. Biso�i, I11oia Key words : Introduction, status of world water resources, Proble111s, Challenges [/s lvlanage111ent, Indian scenario, 1i1tegrated management & conclusion. Introduction : \'vatcr is a vulnerable, renewable, finite resource and elixir of life. The world's thirst for water is likely to become one of the most pressing resources issue of the 21st century for the humanity. Global water consumption rose six folds between 1990 to 1995, more than double the population growth. Major fresh water consumption realms are agriculture (70%), industry (20%) and community house hold (8%). It is estimated that by 2025 AD over three billion people of 65 countries, half the worlds population will be severely affected by water crisis and India will not be any exception.1 Earth is called the blue planet because it contains 97 .5'1/,, of the total available water in oceans, unfortunately as salt water, and the rest 2.5% only is fresh water again out of which 2.24% is contained in polar ice capes (Antarctica, Green Land etc.) glaciers and deep ground water. Only remaining 0.26% of world's water is accessible for use. Further it is estimated that water consumption by different water users shall rise from 1250 Km.1 in 1960 to 2500 Km.1 by 2010 and about 2800 km.1 by the year 20258 . The United Nations laud and clear massage remains "water is a scarce resource which is to be managed efficiently and protected properly". Embarrassing the above facts it now seems a close reality that we are on the verge of facing a major water crisis globally and if corrective majors are not taken immediately we may face a serious water famine in 21st century. Status of world water resources Water is abundant globally but scarce locally. In every continent the availability of fresh water per head population has fallen dramatically in the last few decades and in the meantime water consumption is increasing tremendously. Agenda 21, the action plan from the "Riode Jenario" summit referred to the fact that "One in three people in developing countries does not have access to drinking water in sufficient quantity and qualities to cover their basic needs while in all parts of the world the availability of fresh water is declining fast.2 Availability of fresh water -(Per capita per year in different countries) Availability of fresh water in different countries can be categorised as given below. (9) Category Per capita availability M3 /year Countries (¾) Very low 1000 or above 14 Low 1000 - 5000 37 Medium 5000 - 10000 14 High 10000 and more 35 Trends in water consumption (km3 /year) Trends in water consumption by different continents are as given below. Continent 1900. 1950 1990 2000 Percentage Africa 41.6 56.2 234.0 317.0 6.1 North America 69.4 286.0 724.0 796.0 15.3 South America 15.1 59.4 150.0 216.0 4.2 Asia 414.0 859.0 2440.0 3140.0 60.5 Europe 37.5 89.0 545.0 673.0 13.0 Oceania 1.4 10.4 37.0 48.0 0.9 Total 579.0 1360.0 4130.0 5190.0 100.0 BISOYI More storage structures \Xlaste water utilization Indian Sce1wrio : Crop diversification. Bring large areas under micro irrigation. Introducing sprinkling and drip irrigation. Use of saline water for irrigation by selecting suitable crops. Implementing regulatory measures on over exploitation of surface and ground water. India has water resources which is 4% of global availability. In India it is estimated that per-capita availability of land and fresh water is 0.2 ha. and 2000 cum. as against world average of 0.27 ha. and 7000 cum. respectively. The climatic variation in India is very high. lt ranges from extreme cold, and aridity to excessive humidity and rain fall. There is also wide variation in precipitation from 100mm. in western Rajastan to 12500 mm in Cherapunji (Maghalaya) -2• Integrated Management: The planning commission had proposed in 2000 an integrated management approach to conserve natural resources like water, soil, bio-diversity and forest besides a well organized monitoring evaluation process. This was proposed with the aim to bring the natural resourecs under one umbrella, and for adoption of an integrated approach -8• Recent Development : Panipaanchayats - Mainly for irrigation system which solves drinking water problems at no extra cost implementing the equitable distribution of water through people's participation. The Gram Ganrav Pratisthan (GGP) and Marathawada Seiti Satya Manda! (MSSM) of Maharastra in an eye opener on this Issue. In Orissa the system is implemented since - Sept. 2000. Voluntary agencies : Tarunbharat Sangh - Sri Rajendra Singh of TBS -and NGO in Rajasthan was awarded "Magayasaya" award for outstanding work in rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan (Alwar district). Public Participation & Govt. Initiatives : • Paniroko Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh has createdadditional water impounding capacity of 9487 x 108 cum through 7,06,304 water harvesting structures�)oth new & renovation of tanks, wells field bundsand contou_r trenches spending Rs. 415 crores out ofwhich Rs. 99.35 crores were from people.Andhra Pradesh has spent a sum of Rs. 149.96 crores for impounding water to the tune of 68 - 67 x 10'J cum through water harvesting activities under "Neeru Meeru" programme funded by world bank. Conclusion : The Rio-declaration on Environment and development adopted in UNCED-in-1992 stated -Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living standards in different parts of the world are essential to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of the majority of the people. Therefore we have no option but to depend on the available sources of water and have the responsibility to save, conserve and strengthen them without fail because as long as there is life on Earth demand for water is going to increase. World water forum (WWF), the biggest International gathering has discussed recently on very title making water every body's business. "Water, Water every where but not a drop to drink" lamented in colerdge poem should not happen in the best welfare of humanity. The nightmare of water crisis should be reversed by turning our wavey water dreams into reality. References 1. Bisoyi L.K - Water for 21st century - 42nd Annual Tech.Journal - I.E. (India), Orissa State Center, Bhubaneswar, 21stJan. 2001.2. Bisoyi L.K. - Rain water harvesting and communityparticipation - An Innovative Approach for Water ResourcesManagement-A IS on water in 21st century issue and strategies, 29th June 2001 - I.E. (India), Orissa State Center, Bhubaneswar.3. Bisoyi L.K. - Save that drop of water - souvenir - 47th annualsession Orissa Engineering Congress - 2002 - 28th January2002, Bhubaneswar, Orissa.4. Down to earth - Science & I •:nv. Fortnightly - April - 15 -2002, New Delhi - 110062.5. Ghosh .... S etall - water in 21st Century - challenges and strntegies - Kurukshetra,Jan, 2002, R.D. Deptt., Govt. of India, New Delhi - 110001. 6. Mohanty R. H. - Management of Water in 21st century - AISon Water in 21st century - issues and strategies - 29th June2001-IE (India), Orissa State Center, Bhubane�war.7. Mohapatra, P.C - \'v'ater management a global issue. Also on water in 21st cenn1ry - issues and strategies - 29.06.200] - I.E.(India) Orissa State Center, BBSR.8. Nautiyal. S - Water Crisis - Agenda for the century - Yojana -Vol. 46 - Feb. 2002, New Delhi.9. Rath, :-..J.P. - etall - fresh water scenario in next 100 years - Aglobal overview - AIS on water in 21st century- Issues andstrategics - 29.06.2001 - I.E. Orissa Center, Bhubaneswar.10. Singh, R - Water Conservation - In tendum with nature -Kurukshetra - Nov. 2001 - Ministry of RD., Govt. of India.New Delhi - 110001.Er. L. K. BISOYI, M.l.E. (India) M.E.(l�H.) Fellow IPHE (India). 

Water resource management - crisis in 21st century

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Water resource management - crisis in 21st century

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