With the ever growing urban development needs of cities all over the country, water availability and supply has become a major civic issue. In recent times, we are facing severe water shortage in Bangalore. Let us face the reality. We are not really conservative about our water resources. It is a known fact that the ground water levels are depleting at an alarming rate everywhere in our country, NASA had to come up with a study to enlighten us. Agricultural produce is hitting all time low numbers, there by the food grain prices are beyond the reach of a common man. Irrigation has become highly impossible in elevated regions where the river water is out of question. The ground water levels have gone so deeper, the bore wells have to drilled to a minimum of 700+ feet for irrigational purpose.
The pic you see above is clicked at a water reservoir near my native place – Chittoor. It has water not more than a foot or two! Why am I mentioning all this now? here is the anwer – as mentioned before, continuing my experiments in rural India. The only bore well that was helping our folks at my native place dried up a month back. That bore well was initially drilled about 500 feet some 6 years back. Now that the ground water levels have gone down, we had no other option but to go for a new one which is much deeper. We got this done last week and the sad part is that we had to drill 837 feet to get 2.5″ of non-stop water as long as the electricity is available! This was a must to continue any kind of agricultural activity there.
With this adventure, I am not sure how long this new borewell will be functional. I have too many thoughts on my mind. Are we using the available water efficiently? Are we doing our bit to make the best use of water in the right way, even by following simple pro-active measures? In future, on this blog you will get to read a series of articles on water conservation and efficient ways of water consumption. By the way, I will be announcing the contest to give away the aloe vera saplings as mentioned before by next week. Stay tuned!
namit says
nice post…keep writing on these social topics and ur post is very informative…
YReadThis says
Its one of the great post dude. Since many in the world has to know to predict the future of themselves and the world about the water conservation. What happens if this goes on an big question mark????????.
Mohan says
Your question is as good as mine!
Sukhdeepak says
The efficient consumption of water by individuals, regeneration of rain water and dependence on water for agriculture must be avoided. Every village must have water storing dams. Gujrat model must be followed for this purpose.
Mohan says
I haven’t read much about the Gujrat model, let me read through sometime. Thanks for the pointer!
Saumen says
Thanks Mr.Mohan for a write up on Water Conservation. I think the root cause of this problem is human(our) bad habits. Our ancestors has put a golden rule to live life and that is “NAA ADHIK BHOG, NAA PURA TYAG….SAYOM – controlled life”…..At Bank we see caption “Save whenever you can, think before spend”….same should be our principle to use water or any type of resource/wealth and all aspects of life.
I think, existance of tree/plant, sunlight, fresh air, pure water etc has a mojor role in our healthy life….. and that is why our ancestors tried to inculcate a gratefull attitude towards our nature and its element……. they taught us to worship Sun, Tree, River etc for the same purpose—- i.e. to have a balanced attitude towards nature and thus life.
Rain water harvesting, using partially treated waste water for the purpose of cleaning public places…..are few methods which can provide us surface level relief…..
The time has come where we all are bound to think as WHAT WE ARE LEAVING FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION in terms of natural resourses, habits etc…
Mohan says
I can’t agree more with what you have mentioned. The imbalance and negligence towards nature is causing all the problems for sure.
Saumen says
Thanks that you have agreed to “imbalance and negligence towards nature is causing all the problems”. Now the question comes, Who did ? and Why ?
Mr. Mohan, I am just pointing at the root cause…..
Nethra says
This doesn’t help….I mean writing about it and trying to create awareness. Only self realization can do some good in saving water. People, near my place, waste so much water and they didn’t stop it even after my mom asked them not to do it. 🙁
Mohan says
And that self realization will come to many only upon a bit of awareness. Let us spread the word. I am sure, it will help all of us.
davejoneja says
It looks very beautiful and peaceful.
Mohan says
Oh yeah? the dry reservoirs look beautiful for you?
rituraj says
Hi Mohan
I appreciate your concern with environmental issues otherwise who the hell is concerned about it.
I work in a digital marketing company(www.redpencil.in) here every body is environmentalist , which makes me feel proud.
Mohan says
Thanks Rituraj! Welcome to my blog. Glad to have you here. Nice to know about your organization and the environmental conscious people working there. Wish every organization enables its employees to go that extra step.
S.R.Ayyangar says
How far water harvesting can help in individual houses when there is scanty rain like Bangalore is now facing? Some years back near Doddabomsandra in Vidyaranyapura, lacs of rupees was spent on a reservoir but no water in it!
Moulee says
After making rainwater harvesting compulsory in Chennai there has been significant raise in the ground water there.
Mohan says
Let me explore more on the way they have implemented there. I didn’t know about it. Thanks for bringing up that information.
Mohan says
That is the whole point Ayyangar. When there are insufficient rains, we should be able to survive with ground water. If we lose out on both, the life would be more miserable.
Aathira says
I am of the very strong belief that Rain water harvesting techniques need to be made mandatory by government for all high rise buildings. Each of these buildings are going to consume much more water than that should be allotted for the area they occupy. For the rest they should try to employ rainwater harvesting techniques so that there is less dependence on the municipal water supply.
I am hoping to get hold of some aloe vera saplings 😉
PS: A gardening doubt, I have a sapling of curry leaves, but the leaves seem to be very dry in spite of regular watering, and at times I feel the leaves are turning yellow, due to excessive water… completely lost what to do!
Mohan says
Yes, Rainwater harvesting is one of the ways… there are more simpler ways. I shall try to cover most of them.
Aloe vera seem to be center of attraction for many now!
Well, the curry leaves plant needs some good sunlight. Ensure you have sufficient direct sunlight reaching the plant and also ensure that the water you pour doesn’t stay in the pot for long. It should have such a sand mixed soil that the water flows through to bottom and from there it drains out to outside through a hole.
Aathira says
I would love to see simpler ways… and if there are some ways we can do small things which shall make a difference going forward in the longer run, that shall be wonderful. Shall wait to read your series on this 🙂
In fact I am looking to go to do my higher studies in environmental management and concentrating on water management.
Thanks for the tip on the plant…the pots are out in the balcony.. but I think maybe the water is not draining as you say… lemme try to do something about it this weekend.
Mohan says
That sounds interesting! All the best with your higher studies. Sure, please take care of the soil and water flow that should solve your problem 🙂
Dinesh says
On the topic of rainwater harvesting, TN govt made it mandatory for all the houses in chennai few years back and ensured that it is implemented. It seemed to have helped as we dont see people increasing the depth of borewells on the residences whcih was a regular event few years back.
Mohan says
Interesting.. I am planning to read more on that over the weekend. Thanks for the heads up dinesh!
Swaram says
Thatz a nice idea Mohan .. will be tuned in for the series 🙂
I feel water has to be charged per unit too like electricity. Ppl might use it judiciously then!
I soooo want the Aloe Vera sapling 😛
Mohan says
Swaram, feel free to contribute if that topic interest your. Already in Bangalore BWSSB charges on ‘per kilo liter’ basis. It is Rs 8 per 1000 liters right now and that is how it has been for a long time now!
Shilpa says
Certainly a very apt topic. Coming from a place, where we didn’t get water for days together. I do certainly understand the need to conserve water. One of the things, we do at home to use water to the minimal possible is to avoid using the tap. We generally allow the tap open when we are rinsing things, brushing, washing face etc. This causes a lot of water wastage. In our house, we have buckets near the tap. So, take the water required from the bucket and use it. So, the usage of taps is minimized 🙂
Mohan says
Great tip you have shared with us. Let me start another article to collect all such simple yet most valuable tips for greater cause!
Nagarjun says
Do you think the government should make it compulsory? In Chennai its supposed to be compulsory by law.
Mohan says
Make what compulsory? sorry, i didn’t get the context of your subject.
Siddharth says
Very important issue raised. Somehow, people are not understanding the need to conserve water. I don’t know how to make people believe that it can be a very critical in near future. If you plan to start some campaign or something do count me in 🙂
Mohan says
Sure Sid! I shall keep you posted, thanks for the support.