Six environmental tipping points are imminent, according to a team of scientists that created the Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023: rapid species extinctions, groundwater depletion, melting mountain glaciers, space debris, extreme heat, and an uninsurable future.
Source: News Heads
The destiny of the planet depends on each of these tipping points, and if they all occurred at once, it would result in a catastrophe that would be extremely impossible to contain. The history of the planet and living things has been altered by such tipping moments. Despite having less water resources than the US and China combined, India is the world’s top user of groundwater, using more of it than these two nations combined. When above-ground water supplies are insufficient, the majority of groundwater extractions are utilised for agricultural purposes. Although they have played a significant role in the nation, aquifers are under stress. Numerous papers and studies have made this conclusion clear.
Following the Green Revolution, the nation’s agricultural output has increased thanks to borewells and tubewells. But that farming paradigm might be destroyed as a result of the unsustainable usage of water. In Punjab, the majority of borewells are overused. Excessive and unscientific water extraction occurs for both industrial and potable water uses. Water waste and leaks exacerbate the issue. Although there are programs and initiatives for water conservation, such as rainwater collection, they have not been broadly embraced in the nation.
Source: United Nations University- EHS
In order to encourage sustainable groundwater management by communities, the government introduced the Rs 6,000-crore Atal Bhujal Yojana in 2020 for a five-year term in 78 water-stressed areas, including 14 districts in Karnataka. It’s said that Karnataka showed the best performance and that progress has been made. If the claims are accurate, the program merely addresses a small portion of the issue. Ground water supplies provide more than 70% of the nation’s water needs. Increased public awareness of the necessity for resource conservation is required.
Action plans are required in order to decrease water consumption, get rid of waste, and enhance conservation. In the upcoming years, the situation will worsen due to climate change. Now is the time to begin tallying the amount of water that has been conserved and used.
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