Ganga, Krishna, Narmada, Kaveri – many of our great rivers are depleting fast.
If we do not act now, the legacy we hand over to the next generation will be one of conflict and deprivation.
Let me tell you some important facts.
- Today we have 70% less water per person than in 1947.
- By 2030 we will have only 50% of water we need for our survival
- 25% of India turning into a desert
- The Ganga is one of the most endangered rivers in the world.
- The Kaveri has lost 40% of its flow. Krishna and Narmada have lost around 60%
India’s rivers are undergoing a drastic change. Due to the pressures of population and development, our perennial rivers are becoming seasonal. Many of the smaller rivers have already vanished. Flood as well as drought are becoming increasingly frequent, as rivers turn unruly during the monsoon, and vanish once the rainy season is over.
PLEASE DON'T SCROLL THIS FAST. This may boring to read but this is very important.
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HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU
- Estimates say 65% of our water needs are met by rivers.
- 2 out of 3 major Indian cities already deal with daily water shortage. Many urban residents pay ten times the normal amount for a can of water.
- We consume water not just to drink or for domestic purposes. 80% of water is used to grow our food. Each person’s average water requirement is 1.1 million liters a year.
- Flood, drought and rivers turning seasonal are increasingly leading to crop failure across the country.
- Climate change is expected to cause worse floods and droughts within the next 25-50 years. During the monsoon, rivers will flood. The rest of the year, drought will follow. These trends are already beginning.
River Ganga in 1984 vs 2016
You can clearly see the difference in both the images.
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The Question is what the solution for it?
The simplest solution to rejuvenate India’s rivers is to maintain a minimum of one kilometer tree cover on riversides.
Forest trees can be planted on government land and fruit trees on farm land. This will ensure our rivers are fed throughout the year by the moist soil. This will also reduce floods, drought and soil loss, and increase farmers’ incomes.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO..
Give A Missed Call
There's a ongoing campaign Rally for Rivers launched by Isha Foundation to tackle the scarcity of water across rivers in India. It was aimed to create awareness on protecting rivers. The campaign was launched by Sadhguru.
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How Will A Missed Call Help?
In a democratic system, the government is sensitive to the views of the majority of the population. Unless there is substantial support and demand from the people, a positive river policy cannot be brought into action effectively.
Almost every adult in the country has a cellphone today. Giving a missed call is a simple way to quantify public support. In other words, your missed call will act as a vote in support of reviving our rivers.
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If you are concerned about India’s rivers, the simplest way you can participate in reviving them is by giving a missed call to 80009 80009. Don’t forget to encourage everyone you know to give a missed call too!
Your missed call is an vote for comprehensive policy to revitalise and sustain rivers.
A draft policy resolution over it will be submitted to the Union government Centre at Delhi on October 2
Thanks for reading and giving a missed call.
