Don’t pollute water, save it for better life and future

The World Water Day is observed every year on 22nd March with the aim to bring awareness among the common people about the importance, conservation and judicious use of water. The first world water Day was designated by the United Nations in 1993 as an international observance day. Water is one of the most important and precious resources on mother earth that is very essential for all living organisms from small unicellular bacteria to the big multicellular whale fish. It is equally important for all plants as well. All living organisms cannot survive without water. There is no life on earth without water and life almost certainly originated in water. It covers 71% of the Earth’s surface but only 2.5 % is fresh and most of that lies frozen and inaccessible in the icecaps and Greenland, leaving less than 1 % of fresh water accessible in lakes, river channels and underground. The valley of Kashmir has been gifted by the Almighty Allah the rich fresh water resources like lakes, rivers, springs , glaciers, ground water etc. the crystal and clean water bodies not only adds to the beauty of Kashmir valley called the paradise on the earth but also contributes to the economy of the state very well. It attracts lakhs of tourists all over the world and generates huge employment opportunities for the people of Kashmir valley. Fresh water resources also help to maintain the moderate level of climate and weather in the valley. Water is essential for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, industries, factories, construction, energy generation and drinking purposes. Many important sectors like agriculture, horticulture, industries, construction, energy generation etc. are very dependent on water and without water, they can be paralysed. Kashmir valley is rich in perennial fresh water bodies but the situation of the pristine and crystal water bodies in the Kashmir valley is grim as they are being polluted by the people at a high rate and face encroachments, pollution and a general apathy from people. Clean water bodies are being used as dumping sites for biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. Heaps of solid wastes are lying at the banks of streams, canals, rivulets, rivers, lakes, ponds etc. The huge quantity of liquid wastes directly drains into fresh water bodies as well. Fresh water bodies that provide water for many purposes are highly polluted and choked by solid waste, household refusals, polythene bags, plastic materials, wrappers and indiscriminate encroachments. It is pertinent to mention that water quality of the Jhelum, Dal Lake, Manasbal Lake, Doodh Ganga, Sukhnag etc. is rapidly deteriorating as most sewerage is poured into them even at most places, these water bodies are used as dumping sites. The pollution of water has increased much beyond the permissible level in many water bodies and many important fresh water bodies suffocated and many are on the verge of extinction due to increased pollution from municipal and industrial waste, the leaching of fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture. As water pollution increases, water quality and the amount of usable water decreases. Extinction of many important water bodies has caused scarcity of drinking water and non-availability of water particularly for the agriculture and horticulture sectors that created panic among the various stakeholders of the valley. Global warming due to climate change has also caused acute water shortages in most parts of the valley. Despite the water crisis in almost every part of the valley, the People of Jammu and Kashmir are hardly bothered about the problems of drinking water. They continue to throw wastes into irrigation canals, streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. The pure water that was once available very easily from our fresh water bodies is now becoming very difficult to get from the same fresh water bodies. The Kashmir valley has really become a trash bowl due to piles of non-biodegradable wastes all across the land and fresh water bodies due to uncontrolled polythene and plastics. Uncontrolled polythene and plastic is causing a serious threat to both aquatic flora and fauna.
Water crisis in Kashmir is gradually turning agricultural lands into wastelands and housing colonies due to unavailability of water. Water crisis and pollution will affect tourism in the future, economic activities will decline, unemployment rate will surge, ecological imbalance will increase due to disruption of food chains and food webs. It is the responsibility of all of us to save and preserve the pure water from pollution and wastage. Water is a precious gift essential for all living organisms and economic sectors. Scientific waste management is the need of the hour because urban as well as rural areas have turned into garbage sites that engulfed the fresh water bodies. Education and awareness among the people about the importance of water for daily life, judicious use and its conservation measures is the need of the hour. Strict implementation of water conservation laws, and schemes related to conservation of fresh water resources will prove effective and useful. Civil society, NGOS, and religious scholars can also bring awareness among the people regarding the importance of water for life and its conservation measures. Every year 22nd March is observed and celebrated as international water day but mere celebrations of water day will not bring much change unless and until laws for water conservation are not strictly implemented on ground level. Every day is a water day and people should pledge sincerely to save water for the benefit of all living organisms and for a better tomorrow. The policy makers should formulate productive and innovative policies that can cope with the present and future crisis in the Kashmir valley. The state water regulatory authority, Pollution Control Board, and Jal Shakti Department should work in cooperation and make joint efforts to involve the public for water conservation measures. Blanket ban on polythene and plastics, establishment of small recycling units, development of civic sense among the people and establishment of dumping sites for all villages will bring much change in saving the water from pollution. Let us pledge to save water for our better and prosperous future. Otherwise, we will have to pay a huge price and suffer a colossal loss in the future.
(The author is a teacher at Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah, Budgam. Views are his own)
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