Water is lifeblood for our planet
- World Water Day on 22nd March -

Dr. N. Munal Meitei *

Loktak Lake - Largest Fresh Water Lake in North East India (8th June 2022) :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Water is life, sanitation and hygiene are dignity. Water is constant on Earth. Water scarcity leads to every global problem right from food shortages, economies, international peace and even civil unrest.

Globally, nearly two-thirds of the world's population, experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. By 2050, 5 billion people are expected to live with ex- tremely high-water stress as the water demand will increase by 55% due to increase in population, manu-facturing, thermal electricity and domestic use.

World Water Day is celebrated on 22nd March every year since 1993. The theme for 2025 is “Glacier Preservation,” emphasizing the vital role of glaciers in sustaining life and water cycle and the consequences of their melting due to climate change.

Glaciers, mountain run-off and snowmelt provide nearly two billion people with water for drinking, agriculture and energy production. As global inequality worsens, more people will be unable to afford clean drinking water and now, we need for an international stand to define water right to prevent conflicts and water war.

All organisms contain water and depend on it for survival. Water is nature's most precious gifts. Water is central to growing crops and raising livestock, producing electricity, maintai- ning human health, fostering equitable societies and meeting the world’s climate goals. Without better water management, population growth, economic development and climate change are poised to worsen water stress.

Having free access to freshwater is a basic human right. Water has the power to unlock human resources. But the problem faced is its scarcity due to injudicious use. Without intervention, such as investment in water infrastructure and better water governance-water stress will continue to get worse, particularly in places with rapidly growing population and economies. Living with water stress jeopardizes people’s lives, jobs, food and energy security.

Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface. 96.5% of the planet's water is saline and 3.5% are fresh water. Out of it, 1.7% is in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and ice caps. Only 0.1% of the Earth’s water is available with us. Out of this palatable water, maximum is again in the lakes and rivers. Hence only a little fraction of water is available for our use.

Increasing water stress threatens countries’ economic growth and global food security. Due to climate change, world’s irri- gated agriculture faces extreme high-water stress up to 84%, with a loss of water supplies in about 60% of those croplands - particularly rice, sugarcane, wheat and maize.

Yet to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050, the world will need to produce 56% more food calories than it did in 2010 -all while dealing with increasing water stress as well as climate - driven disasters like droughts and floods.

The human body contains about 70% water. To keep us healthy, we require about 3% of our body weight which is about 3 liters of water daily. Water is necessary for the digestion and absorption of food; helps maintain proper muscle tone; supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells; rids the body of wastes; and serves as a natural air conditioning system.

Climate change is expected to severely alter the quantity, quality and spatial distribution of global water resources. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, change the moisture holding capacity in the air and alter rainfall patterns. Water bodies, rivers and wetlands are among the world’s most productive ecosystems. In short, water is lifeblood for our planet.

Water is now an acute crisis in our country. The fact that India represents about 21% of global population, but possesses only 4% of the world’s freshwater puts it India in the 13th most water-stressed country.

In the country, water shortages can lead to industrial interruptions, energy outages and agricultural production losses-like those already being seen, where a lack of water to cool thermal power-plants between 2017 and 2021 resulted in 8.2 terawatt-hours in lost energy - or enough electricity to power 1.5 million Indian households for five years.

India will have a water deficit of 52% by 2030 as per a report from Asian Development Bank. Increasing in population and reducing in rainfall and other water resources are the main cause for the crisis. Failing to implement better water management policies could result in GDP losses in the country from 7% to 12% by 2050 according to the Global Commission on Adaptation.

In Manipur, now we are facing acute water scarcity. To save the State’s water crisis, we need to conserve and protect our forests, spring-sheds, catchments and wetlands. Our State does not have a long-term water plan like big dams and other water storage facilities for any eventualities.

Unluckily, all of our rivers are rain fed, there is no snow fed river in our State and hence when there is scanty rainfall, then we face the drought. Many villages in the in the hills may be displaced due to the intense water scarcity in the next few years.

Most of our water sources have been dried up due to lack of vegetation in the upper reaches. Therefore, felling of trees in the catchments should immediately be stopped. As an impact of climate change, the state is facing with scanty rainfall. Now we need to spread awareness on water conservation techniques. Every new house should compulsorily have rain water harvesting facilities.

The authority should enhance to install for more water treatment facilities from all sources. Promoting ideas for making the best use of existing water supplies should also be the core initiative. The State needs to have a sewage water treatment plant which may save around 200 million litres water annually from unnecessary waste.

Therefore, on coming of World Water Day, 2025, let’s take care of our water resources to save us and the future generation from dreaded water crisis.