Is Mars Visas The Next Solution?

The blueprint of the future paradise has become the tempting wallpaper hiding the creaks of our present.

We have reached a stage where the questions have changed from,

“How will be the future?” to whether “Will there be a future?”

We are amidst an impending end without even realizing yet being the source of it. It is a scenario which we all had in our mind since decades yet we are petrified to uncover it and do anything about it.

The much-feared scenario is right before us, THE WATER CRISIS.

We have all read about water as an incessant source, and here we are witnessing its end. The water cycle has even given up on us. India has the minimal 8% of world’s water share, filling up the needs of the ever increasing second largest population of the world. To top this, are issues of leakage losses, water pricing and metering of water. Lack of proper maintenance of existing infrastructure causes further losses of almost40 per centof piped water in urban areas.

According to the Composite Water ManagementIndex (CWMI)reportreleased by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.

However, 12 per cent of India’s population is already living the 'Day Zero' scenario, thanks to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system and years of deficient rains. TheCWMI reportalso states that by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventualsix per cent loss in the country's GDP.

The apathy towards water bodies is so stark that little is known about their numbers or the state of their use, disuse or abuse either by the Centre or states.

The only relevant source of information on water bodies is the minor irrigation (MI) census.

According to the 4th MI census, carried out during 2006-2007, there were 5,23,816 water bodies - declining by 32,785 from 5,56,601 water bodies identified during the 3rd MI census of 2000-2001.

Of these 5,23,816 water bodies, 80,128 (or 15 per cent) were found"not in use"any more.

Realising the seriousness of problem confronting water bodies, the Centre had launched the Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies' scheme in 2005 with the objectives of comprehensive improvement and restoration of traditional water bodies, including increasing tank storage capacity, ground water recharge, increased availability of drinking water, improvement of catchment areas of tank commands, etc.

When the Parliamentary panel was expressing its displeasure, it was reviewing performance of this scheme and found it lackadaisical and distressing.

Talking about the current response of the Water minister of India, it’s a “hyped” up news and the problem isn’t as arduous as it is being portrayed. This has become more than a government problem and based on previous repercussion, it will surely boat us to our end.

We might be near our doom but let’s just say there is still a ray of hope that if we join hands to fight against this man-made calamity, we might be the heroes for our future beings. Now, isn’t the time to follow the petty rules we all were taught in lower classes which we never followed. Instead urgent lunges, towards saving what is left with us, is the need of the hour. Standing in front our end and being its sole cause, we are here to revert the ship backwards, and that would take sheer determination and an equal effort on the part of each indiviual.

So, it’s this way or we better start getting our visas for Mars.

For bringing a change on a personal level and for solutions to save water

Do visit this video,By Dhruv Rathee on water crisis.https://www.facebook.com/DhruvRatheePage/videos/2172841492814038/