3.4 Billion Masses Likely To Reside In 'Water-Scarce' Countries By 2025

BANGALORE: Water, the most precious natural resource, is now facing an acute shortage in many parts of the world. Scarcity of this natural resource is becoming a crucial woe in almost all the countries. As such, UN report foreseen that as many as 3.4 billion people will be settling in "water-scarce" countries by the year 2025, reports TNN.

Over the next two decades, increasing population and growing demands for water are projected to push all the countries into water scarcity condition. By 2050, the number of countries coming across water stress or scarcity could rise to 54, with a combined population of four billion people—about 40 percent of the projected global population of 9.4 billion.

“Droughts, floods and competition for limited supplies can threaten national economies and energy production, and even jeopardize people’s lives. If countries and international-level decision makers understand more clearly where water stress is most severe, they can direct attention and money toward the most at-risk regions," reports Huffington Post.

The report, which was conducted based on the scientific data and findings of various research institutions, revealed that Asia will be the biggest conflict zone for water scarcity as water sources spreads national borders. The reports further exclaimed, "Areas of conflict include the Aral Sea and the Ganges-Brahmaputra River, Indus River and Mekong River basins,” reports TOI.

Narain, Director General of the Delhi-based policy group, Centre for Science and Environment said, "We can deal with the situation by water recharging through decentralized manner across the country, handling water pollution through effective measures and making water conservation a national obsession.”

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