Month of June is gone. With a forecast of normal-to-excess monsoon, the first setback
was a late arrival in Kerala, and then slow progress over the peninsula. The
IMD kept changing the date of arrival of rains. Most of the June saw only sparse
rains. And as of the end of the month, we are rain deficit for this monsoon
season. While western region overall is about 18% deficit, the Pune sub-region
is a whopping 53% rain deficit. Reservoirs are down to almost negative water
storages, and the situation is serious.
Not only is the situation serious but it also calls for
serious introspection. Does the current situation call for a review of our
water conservation policies? If we have as many as six dams upriver in the Pune-PCMC
area alone, why should the conditions be so dire? Is it our over dependence on
monsoon? Have we evaluated other options? The ground water may be used
indiscriminately and freely, but have we thought of recharging it?
Urban Water Issues
Up till a few decades ago, many urban area bungalows and houses
had their own wells. Soon it was replaced by concealed water pipes, and the
responsibility of supplying the water was transferred to the municipal
corporation. The government sprang into action, and built dams after dams in
the ghat-region. The dams were touted as symbols of progressive thinking and
development. Issues around destruction of habitat or displacement of people
were ruthlessly covered up. And availability of water for the urban populace
became as magical as opening a tap and using the water.
But there are issues in fair and proper distribution, and
wastage. The amount of water wasted in distribution alone is huge in quantity.
And the wastage by people is not even accounted. Water comes very cheap – a mere
line item in the property tax per year. And the amount is insignificant. It is
often said that you value only what comes at a price. It is time we review the
costs associated with water usage. Until people pay for every liter they use –
just like a unit of the electricity – and that too monthly, awareness towards
wastage will not increase.
The luddites in the government need to adopt technologies
to curb wastage, ensure fair distribution, and install accurate, tamper proof
meters. And most importantly, approach this issue without the influence of vote
banks. All this combined should at least arrest some wastage.
Are Dams the Answer?
There are six dams upriver in Pune-PCMC urban
conglomeration addressing city water and irrigation issues. The city of Mumbai
is provided water from the dams on the Tansa and the Vaitarna rivers. And
according to Google Maps, these reservoirs are a three-hour drive from the
city. So the water that Mumbai uses is actually stored more than 100 kilometers
away. The water is transported to Mumbai, filtered and distributed. The
displacement of people and destruction of farmlands due to the dams are viewed
as a collateral damage for the city that must hum round the clock to the tune
of a running tap. And in return, most of the local water sources – wells and
brooks have been destroyed. Apparently, we call that development. Same story
goes more or less for many other cities bursting at their seams.
Can this change? Before the cities became as big as they
are today, they managed their own water supply. There was enough ground water,
and enough open spaces to recharge this water. Can some of these systems be
revived? Can’t technology be used to ensure proper rainwater harvesting? And
instead avoid waterlogging in the cities and push this water in the underground
aquifers? Can’t development be all-inclusive?
According to Wikipedia, there are 1821 notable dams in
Maharashtra, the highest number in all of India – serving the urban and rural
water needs. And even with such kind of storage available, a failed monsoon
created such havoc! In return, we also have downstream rivers which are
ecologically dead.
Is Urban Usage Recharge Possible?
The water used in households for bathing, washing clothes
and utensils etc. can be collected, passed through a basic filtration criteria and
used for flushing toilets. With a little bit of investment in plumbing, a water
pump and a storage facility this is achievable. It should reduce the water
required by a building to half the quantity.
What about rural and industrial water issues?
I am not qualified to comment on either the rural usage or
the industrial usage. However, I keep reading about crops that guzzle water and
industries that draw water indiscriminately. Also, the industries release huge
amount of untreated effluent water causing further environmental damage to an
already fragile water-ecosystem. All this needs to be rationalized. While a
farmer is free to grow the crops, regional and environmental guidelines need to
be elaborated and followed.
What does the history tell us?
Because of its geographical location, peninsular India has
always been at the mercy of the monsoons. But a student of history will tell
you of various mechanisms that our ancestors used to conserve water and ensure adequate
usage. Droughts were not uncommon, but large scale deaths due to water scarcity
were not reported until the British Raj ruthlessly squashed the conventional
wisdom. In an unbiased and objective manner, we should once again evaluate and
revive these age-old policies.
But I am just one person, what can I do?
Well, the best thing to do is do your bit. Avoid water
wastage. Teach your kids the importance of conservation. Plant a tree –
preferably endemic species – and care for it. It will make your summer bearable,
and not to forget produce oxygen for you for free. If all of us do our bit,
bit-by-bit it will become large enough initiative that will reverse some of the
issues we face.
I will leave you with one last thought – if eighteen hundred
and twenty-one dams in Maharashtra could not curtail the havoc of one failed
monsoon, imagine what could happen when the vagaries of nature become extreme?
