The Hindu Business Line : Movement for `water literacy' advocated

WATER should become everyone's business if India is to cope with the water shortages that confront most parts of the country, said Ms Sunita Narain, Director, Centre for Science and Environment.

Inaugurating a workshop on rainwater harvesting organised by the Kerala Government-backed Jalanidhi and the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram, she said that a movement for `water literacy' must be launched to spread awareness about the various issues related to water and its usage in India.

Water shortages are now a permanent feature of life in India, especially in urban India, and the only solution is to adopt sustainable water management practices, she pointed out. Traditional water management models offer valuable insights into methods to capture and store water, and thus recharge water resources, she added.

According to Ms Narain, there is a need to rework society's relationship with water. For instance, water should be made a `right' for all, though large users should pay more for the water they use, she said. Similarly, commercial exploitation of groundwater should be checked and large users must improve the efficiency of their water usage, she added. Recycling of water, especially by large users, must be encouraged, she said. Incentives are also required to encourage the development and use of `water-efficient' toilets and other equipment, she added.

Despite the significant amount of rainfall received in Kerala, the potential for natural recharge of groundwater resources is low, Ms Narain said. Hence, artificial recharge techniques such as rainwater harvesting become extremely important for the State, she pointed out.

Ordinary, open wells offer a decentralised, cost-effective water supply solution for Kerala, she said. The key is to ensure that these wells are recharged using rainwater harvesting techniques. In fact, a programme to promote rainwater harvesting in `dug' wells, is required, she added.

Though targeted at the media, the one-day workshop also drew participants from other areas. Besides examining the technical aspects of rainwater harvesting, the workshop also presented examples of various rainwater harvesting initiatives across the State. Several participants offered insights into their own experiences in implementing rainwater harvesting projects.