Groundwater is depleting at an alarming rate in India, which is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country in less than a decade. More than a third of India’s population lives in water-stressed areas and this number is set to increase due to depleting groundwater and increasing urbanization. According to a report by the World Resources Institute, India is one of the 17 countries in the world facing an extreme water crisis. India’s water crisis has worsened over the past few decades as bore wells were dug to extract more and more groundwater for water-consuming crops such as paddy and sugarcane. Ideally, surface water should be collected in ponds and other water bodies during the monsoon season and this stored water should be used throughout the year for irrigation instead of groundwater. Over 60 percent of the wells in the country checked by the Central Groundwater Board have recorded a decline in the water level in the past decade.

Punjab is facing groundwater scarcity due to the indiscriminate use of groundwater for agricultural purposes and 80 percent of the state’s area has come under the red zone. In a workshop organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Punjab Energy Development Agency, an expert informed that 16 lakh electric tube wells in Punjab continuously draw water from below ground, due to which the groundwater level has reached a worrying point. The condition is that the groundwater level is going down by one meter every year. The Punjab State Assembly Committee, set up to study the depletion of water tables, had said in its report that the state would turn into a desert in the next 25 years if the current trend of drawing groundwater continues. In simple words, we are drawing more water for our use than we are filling back into the ground. As a result, the water level is going down. This has created a threat of desertification in Punjab.

The rate of pumping up the groundwater in Punjab is 1.66 times higher than the rate of replenishment. It is worth mentioning that paddy cultivation got a boost in Punjab during the Green Revolution in 1966-67, which consumes a lot of water. The trend continues nowadays also. In such a situation, it becomes necessary that the farmers, urban bodies, and industrial units are made aware of the measures to save water and electricity and they should be warned about the dangers caused by the depleting level of groundwater. The United Nations has also issued a warning on the water crisis looming on the earth in its new report. The UN report says that due to climate change, droughts, floods, and drinking water-related crises are increasing. According to this report titled The State of Climate Service 2021, in the year 2018, about 3.5 billion people had access to water for 11 months in a year. It is feared that if precautionary measures are not taken, by 2050, the number of people facing a water crisis could be 5 billion. Experts recommend native plants for the garden. They look great and don’t need much water or fertilizer. Also choosing grass varieties for lawns that are adapted to the local climate, reduces the need for extensive watering.

The availability of water is also related to the food habits of people. There are foods that require more water, while some other food options need less water. A consumer court has imposed a fine of Rs 17,000 on Thai Airways after a passenger from Haryana was served non-veg food on a flight to Melbourne after he had stated his choice at the time of booking the ticket. When the food served between Delhi and Bangkok seemed odd and the passenger inquired, it was found that he was given non-veg food. When the airline did not respond to the complaint over email, the passenger filed a case in consumer court. For those who do not eat non-veg food, such a situation becomes very troublesome. By the way, let me tell you that non-veg food is also responsible for increasing global warming. Raising an animal requires more water than farming, and the animals emit harmful gases. One should have compassion towards animals and birds and in view of the damage caused to the environment, it is prudent to eat vegetarian food.

From individuals to companies, governments, and nations, efforts have to be made at every level to save the environment. For this, the Sustainable Development Goals have been issued by the United Nations. Information about this has been given in the latest report of Hurun India. According to the report, 29 of India’s top 50 companies that have taken measures in this direction include ITC, Infosys, Cipla, Adani Port, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Hindustan Zinc and Tech Mahindra. Inspired by this list, other companies can step up their efforts. Many companies are constantly turning to such energy sources, which cause the least harm to the environment. For this, water recycling plants and solar energy plants are being set up. By doing this, not only will the environment be safe, but the cost of companies will also be reduced. Sadhguru Jagdish Jaggi Vasudev considers soil not as inert matter, but as the source of life. He is on a 100-day global bike tour to create awareness around soil and environment conservation. Sadhguru says that regenerating the soil will help in tackling the current environmental challenges. Water is a precious resource to sustain life on this planet, therefore it demands better care and more attention.

The writer is a senior journalist and columnist. Views are personal.

Twitter @NarvijayYadav