Article Courtesy: The Hindu

Author: Prakash Nelliyat

Cooperation is critical for achieving water access, security and poverty alleviation

The U.N. General Assembly has declared 2013 ‘International Year for Water Cooperation’. Further, it dedicated the 2013 World Water Day (March 22) to ‘Water Cooperation’.

The estimated global population in 2050 is 9 billion, all of which will depend on finite and vulnerable water resources. This indicates that our interdependence on water issues is growing every day. Water issues cannot be solved on their own, or be left to professionals. In reality, every one’s water use affects others. We use or waste or pollute the common water resources.Challenges, concerns.

Cooperation is critical for achieving water access/security, poverty alleviation and environmentally sustainable economic development. The growth of agriculture, industry and the service sector depends on water availability. However, various development activities create pressure on the sector through excess demand and disposal. Economic development should plan in harmony with the biophysical limit of the water cycle. In this respect, maintaining the environmental flow in surface water sources, stabilising groundwater stocks and managing water quality are important.

The availability of good quality water in adequate quantities for drinking and other domestic purposes is a criterion for health and social security. In the world of privatisation, water faces the threat of commercialisation; wherever water markets exist, the ‘ability to pay’ becomes the criterion for access. Hence, the water rights of the poor and vulnerable communities should be safeguarded.

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