Have you ever given any thought that there is an increase in flood incidences in India? So, is it due to mismanagement of water resources or the impact of climate change? Let us try and find out.
Water is essential, non-negotiable natural resource for the continued functioning of the Earth’s ecosystem. Along with the functioning of other components of an ecosystem, the sheer survival of humans, too, depends on access to water for varieties of activities, such as agriculture, industrial production, household activities, and drinking. The most important of these is the availability of freshwater for drinking purpose. However, only close to 3 per cent of the total available water on this planet occurs as freshwater, the majority of which is locked in snow cover. Along with the availability of water resources, its management is also essential to ensure distribution and to also reduce hazards related to this resource.
The availability and distribution of water resources in India are highly variable. To begin, most of the water in India is received in a short span of three months in the southwest monsoon. There is a significant geographical variation in the amount of rain received. While some areas receive the majority of the rain, some part of the country is highly deficient in water on account of being in rain-shadow areas. Due to this, different regions of India experience different types of hazards related to water resources.
This story is from the September 2021 edition of TerraGreen.
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This story is from the September 2021 edition of TerraGreen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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