80 Percent of Indian Population Suffers from Water Scarcity: Study

“In the latter two countries (Saudi Arabia and Yemen), it (water scarcity) concerns all people in the country, which puts those countries in an extremely vulnerable position,” says the study.

Certain countries, in spite of their smaller population, are affected worse than India and China. In Libya and Somalia, 80 – 90 percent of their population is badly hit by water scarcity while in Pakistan, Morocco, Niger and Jordan it is almost half of their population.

The report is an alarm bell to everyone who is turning a blind eye to the catastrophe we are heading towards. Water conservation should be the main agenda of every government – democracy or not. If water wastage keeps going at the same rate as it is today, the next generation would have to, without a doubt, endure un-imaginable epidemics.

Initiatives such as afforestation, rain water harvesting, water conservation and such should be made mandatory. Governments should invest more in sea water desalination and bring it to fruition at the earliest.

The study adds that, “putting caps to water consumption by river basins, increasing water-use efficiencies, and better sharing of the limited freshwater resources will be key in reducing the threat posed by water scarcity to biodiversity and human welfare.”

Read Also: TED2016 Rose to Their Feet for a 10 Year Old Indian Girl
U.S. to Boost Economic Engagement with Asean