Water Crisis

Water Crisis in Madhya Pradesh

Drought is becoming a regular phenomenon in Madhya Pradesh. In last 15 years 14 to 39 districts have been facing the distress situations of drought every year. As per the reports of Madhya Pradesh Public Health Engineering Department there were 9000 habitations were provided with less then 40 liter water per person per day. This is the amount of water considered to be the minimum requirement for an individual to fill the daily needs. Alarmingly the numbers of habitations in crisis have now gone up to 15000 in the Year 2007-08, Department’s report says. In continuation to the same context, the number of habitations having “no water source” has also increased by more then 5 time then the 2001 situation. There were 448 habitations were identified in “no water source category”, but in the year 2007-08, it has gone up to 2000 habitations.

Water has been an issue being talked about on various forums but no governments bothered to have debates on the causes of water crisis like losing community control over water resources, de-forestation, privatization and marketisation of water and extreme industrial use. The studies of Central Ground Water Board have put 6 blocks on most crisis zone, where more then 100% ground water. There are 65 development blocks, which have consumed 65 to 100% of water. The Central Ground Water Board report also says that the water level of more then 40.73% open wells has decreased by 2 meter and in many of the locations it has gone down by 4 meter. It is a caution for the future government. This biggest curse is that our representatives and political leaders do not have a perspective of handling the crisis of water in a sustainable manner.
Governments in Madhya Pradesh have spent Rs. 265 Crore just to protect the life lines of Bhopal – the Bhopal lakes. But even after that huge expenditure, this year the well known lake of Bhopal is facing the worst crisis ever. Now more then 250 farmers have entered into the dry land of this lake and have started farming. A very formal legal step has been taken against them, but this encroachment is purely a political event, which is going to get protection for the real-estate lobby.