Water scarcity needs urgent attention

The election happened under a scorching sun and drought conditions across the country, but our political leaders could not care less. The severity of this water deprivation has only got worse during six years as we find several of our state capitals running out of it. This year, Kodagu is facing its worst water crisis. It is alarming that water; a life sustaining resource is not an election issue. It shows how serious our leaders and political parties are about building a better tomorrow.  The situation in rural Kodagu is even worse as they face acute water stress. With most of our rivers running dry during the summer months, we have emerged as the largest extractor of ground water in the world.  In most of the areas in Kodagu people had to pay for the water when the prevailing water scarcity has wreaked havoc on their crops. Water should be at the center of all political debates because it is getting scarcer and will affect us all as do floods, forest fires, air pollution and the increasing levels of pollution in our water bodies. Lip service has been made to the issue of environment since it is included in the manifestos of all our national parties but our politicians have failed to connect disasters or environmental pollution with livelihood and governance issues. Our political leaders think that environmental concerns will gain currency only after we address the fundamental human needs of food and water. But can they address those issues, when erratic and uneven monsoon rains cause lower yields and crop damages, reducing farmer’s incomes and causing food prices to rise? This impending water crisis can cripple India’s agriculture sector, and yet we were holding an election where water is scarcely mentioned. Water scarcity is such a pressing matter that stakeholders across all parties should get together and chalk out a meaningful strategy for forest and water conservation. If we deplete our groundwater resources, how will these be generated. It took nature millions of years to create these aquifers, but the current regime seems hellbent on squandering them. The farmers in many places have taken matters in their own hands.  They have warned politicians who go there seeking their vote that if they do not give them water, they will boycott the elections. It’s high time people raised their voices on this issue as it is our collective responsibility to implement safeguards for future generations. This precious resource needs to be managed better.