Nagpur: Only 3% of all Earth’s water is fresh and fit for consumption. Of this, 68.7 percent are in the form of glaciers, 30% are groundwater and only 0.3% are readily available surface water in the form of lakes and rivers, said Sandeep Shirkhedkar, an alumnus of the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology and state government consultant on Saturday.
Having given a lecture on’ Rainwater harvesting urban and rural water conservation systems,’ organized by the Chitnavis Centre’s Eco Club, he said that everyone should act responsibly and use water wisely.
He said, “Northern India’s groundwater supplies are being depleted according to a NASA satellite survey. That is a grave situation. By the year 2040, one in every four children will thirst, according to WHO. We have entered a situation today where we draw 300-year-old water from the confined groundwater table aquifer. Do we have the right to do this, “he ordered.
Speaking of Nagpur, he said, “A sample study of the rainfall in the city has revealed that it has been the same since the last 20 years (1000 mm). The amount of rain falling is the same but the strength is rising. According to him, all of Nagpur’s monsoon water will fall at this pace in just 10 days.” Shirkhedkar pointed out that the world’s next war is likely to be for water.
“There are so many conflicts between nations, governments, villages and even families over the water. Water usage needs to be optimized. “He concluded the solution to the water crisis lies in building large reservoirs. “Apart from large reservoirs, river linking, small reservoir construction, river diversion, watershed management, water use optimization, community and individual initiative will go a long way.
“Shirkhedkar has designed a wide variety of large and small conservation projects. He spoke about rainwater harvesting, habitat protection, conservation systems, water treatment, do’s and don’ts, people’s participation and numerous case studies.
