Coalition for water security brings together NGOs, scholars, and concerned individuals

Groundwater levels have dried up to such an extent that now water crisis is no longer a problem ‘out there’, but has come knocking at our doors. Apartments have almost run out of water, and with there being no rains till now, the situation seems grim. There are NGOs, citizen initiatives, lake restoration groups, and individuals that have affected changes in their respective fields. However, Sandeep Anirudhan, an activist in sustainability and founder of Aikyam community, says a more united endeavour could lead to changes at the policy level.

It was with this objective that Aikyam, Citizens for Agenda of Bengaluru, and United Conservation Movement started Coalition for Water Security. “In December last year, we came together at Atta Galatta to discuss the alarming deterioration of lakes, water bodies and greenery, and depletion of groundwater in the city,” says Sandeep, adding: “We thought of creating one platform for all the individuals, NGOs, and groups that work on these issues to launch a movement ensuring the water security of Bengaluru, based on sustainable, local and resilient principles.”

Over the last year, they have hosted a couple of sessions and symposiums to raise awareness. “We want to create multiple campaigns and shake things up at the policy level. Simple policy changes can make all the difference,” avers Sandeep. However, not everything can be blamed on the government, says Sandeep: “Every citizen should know where their water is coming from. The myopia of society is largely systematic. It is in our education system.”

Sandeep Anirudhan | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Shankar Sharma, a resident of Sagar, who is a power policy analyst and who has been actively working with various NGOs and individuals on specific initiatives on general ecology and water related issues in the Western Ghats, says that cities like Bengaluru should learn to manage their fresh water needs through local resources instead of demanding the same from distant places, such as from various phases of Kaveri river and proposals such as the one to bring water from Linganamakki reservoir in Western Ghats over a distance of 400 km and against a gravity of over 1,000 feet. “Sustainable water management steps include effective rain water harvesting, widespread ground water recharging steps, responsible and efficient management of available water sources, among others. The average rainfall in Bengaluru is considered enormous from the state's average rainfall context, and if managed effectively and responsibly, can make the city self-sufficient. The official loss figure of about 45% in the city's water reticulation system should be the most important indicator in this regard, which can only reveal the enormous potential available to make the city self reliant, instead of allowing it to experience a slow decay by continuing to be a drain on the natural resources of the Western Ghats.”

He adds that the economic growth paradigm of the state must be objectively taken into consideration, including the stark geographical constraints such as 73% of the land being arid/semi-arid and 53% of the land being drought prone. “It is time to start de-congesting Bengaluru, and to develop other towns of the State.” Sharma adds that the demand by cities like Bengaluru on natural resources of the state cannot be allowed to continue to rise perpetually. “Such demand on wood, water, energy, construction materials, food articles etc. need to be managed sustainably and by locally available resources as far as possible, but it is not the case at present. It is not only the water resource in Bengaluru, which is under serious threat, but various elements of the nature all over the state. The natural resources of the state, which are now being over-exploited at an alarming pace, must be adequately protected as life saving fixed deposits in the bank, and only the accruing interest should be used responsibly. The state is credibly expected to have huge impacts on its communities because of the looming threats of climate change.”

Conserving forests is essential to solve the water crisis, says Sharma. “Forests allow rain water to percolate to the ground and act as a sponge to hold the excess water during monsoon and then feed streams and rivers continuously during the remaining months. But we have continued to abuse our forests so much that now there is less than 20 % of green cover in the state as against the national forest policy target of 33% of the land area to be covered by forest and trees. The percentage of natural and dense forest cover may not be much more than 10%. The Western Ghats is in serious threat because of flawed Government policies, he argues. . “In the last 20 to 30 years, the number of linear projects in the Western Ghats, needing the large scale felling of trees, has been increasing.” Ongoing projects can lead to the felling of more than 30 lakh mature trees, which in turn will lead to massive loss of bio-diversity including herbs and shrubs and smaller animals. Sharma adds: “The legitimate need for so many linear projects should be diligently reviewed through costs and benefits analysis, options analysis and through effective discussion with the concerned stake holder groups. In view of the serious resource constraints in the state, the government should focus on other suitable economic activities which will demand minimum amount of water, land, materials and energy, and which will generate least amount of wastes/pollutants. Instead, natural forestry, massive scales of agro-forestry, agriculture /horticulture / dairy based industries, knowledge based activities such as education/health care etc, can be increased,” concludes Sharma.

In sum, it can be said, that if both the government and citizens take conserving water seriously, we can change the tide of crisis.