Such are the baffling ways of the human mind that it takes some to the pinnacle of what the neurons can do while on the other extreme are those who exhibit skewed or negligible activity in their grey matter. The results of such cerebral anomalies at times appear so comical that those who actually use their minds -not just for scheming- would have side-splitting bouts of hilarity making them appear like lunatics for onlookers had it not been for the terrible effects of some such common human follies.
One such aspect experienced every year is related to the presence or absence of water - or rather the general public attitude towards water and other natural resources. Rising impact and frequency of floods and droughts in recent years has evidently not affected the public mentality especially in urban areas where the response to climatic change entails purchase and irrational ‘use’ of air conditioners, air ‘purifiers’ and refrigerators.
One wonders how petroleum price fluctuation stirs up national debate apart from other tangible repercussions but water elicits focus mainly during droughts and floods. Sensible communities can survive and even prosper without petroleum using alternatives and innovations while adjusting to inconvenience and challenges in the initial phases of what will prove to be the better choice later on. Though water is essential for survival, debates and actions focused on petroleum occur throughout the year whereas water becomes an ‘issue’ mainly during drought, rains and flood.
Take the present situation in India where various states including Uttarakhand are suffering from drought conditions. After its recent reinstatement, the state government headed by chief minister Harish Rawat declared Uttarakhand a drought affected state. The State also requested the Centre to declare Uttarakhand a drought affected state and provide financial assistance as provided to other drought-affected States.
Consider the case of Uttarakhand - a state where communities traditionally observed cultural, religious, agrarian and social customs treating natural resources including water with respect to enable sustainable use. In the rural mountain communities newly-married couple is first taken to the village naula (water source) to pay obeisance to water. This practice is diminishing like the other traditions that enabled mountain communities to thrive without the presence of ‘modern developments’ like canals, dams, overhead tanks and motor roads.
As authorities focus on doing the ‘needful’ to tackle drought, it is pertinent to focus on one major aspect which remains ignored despite prominent publicity for some years now. Almost everywhere you look around in government or private establishments - the common aspect in most is the utter disregard for water which is continuously wasted due to negligence and unscientific methods. One cannot visit every government building or private establishment in Uttarakhand but in all those that I have visited so far I have yet to see any where water was not being wasted either due to negligence or misuse. Visit any governmental building in Dehradun from the assembly to the Secretariat and private buildings, you will see water taps leaking due to damage or the notion that turning off faucets is a non-issue for many.
Our sanitation models too appear unscientific with upto 10 litres of water literally going down the drain each time a toilet is flushed. In most cases many litres of water is wasted to flush comparatively miniscule quantity of waste. Even while reading this one may hark at this aspect as often seen when telling people to shut faucets properly or doing the needful oneself. Spilling a barrel of water is not much of an issue but spilling even a cupful of petrol is unthinkable. Ttry to picture the countless children, adults and other creatures who toil and struggle to secure water even when it is in quantities less than the water in an average flush toilet. The next time you see a tap left dripping or come across wastage of water, do consider that the quantity of water wasted is more than the quantity which would have kept a drought fatality alive if only he or she had as much water an average person ‘uses’ to brush teeth.
The Ganga, Yamuna and many other rivers originate in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand but water shortage is now a regular feature here. It will not suffice to simply blame the authorities as long as we don’t realise and correct attitude and treat life-sustaining water with respect as in our ancient civilization which deified Varuna (water) and other aspects. And lastly, do remember that you can survive without petrol or electricity but not without water.