There is no need for a fortune-teller to tell us that we will face water scarcity in the coming year. No matter how much rain we receive, much of it simply flows into the sea because we fail to value and store it. A few years ago, while visiting what was then Madras, now Chennai, I was astonished to see drinking water being sold in plastic packets like milk bottles. It was almost enough to leave me speechless. We often hear slogans such as “Catch the water, store it and allow it to percolate”, but who ensures that these slogans translate into action? How seriously the authorities take the water issue remains an unanswered question. As a temporary remedy, ministers regularly assure us: “All the dams are full”, “There is sufficient water storage until August”, “We are storing water in check dams” and, if necessary, “water from mining pits will be pumped out, treated and supplied for drinking”. These statements sound reassuring, but can any minister guarantee that water will actually flow from our taps when we need it?
As a child, I heard stories about foxes sitting together at night, making grand plans: “We will do this, we will do that.” Perhaps, unlike governments, they did not realise that crores of rupees would be needed to implement those plans—or perhaps they were simply less greedy for money! The next morning, however, they would forget everything they had discussed. We humans seem to have inherited that particular quality from them in full measure. There is an English saying: “A stitch in time saves nine.” Perhaps our babus—or should we call them “khabus”?—are unaware of it, or perhaps they knowingly choose to shut their eyes and ears. Recently, I personally saw water flowing continuously, day and night, from a water chamber in Marcel. Two neighbouring chambers face the same problem. Yet the authorities have failed to take timely action on something so simple. Perhaps this is a quality of the government chair itself, or some contagious disease that has spread through Goa’s administration. Unfortunately, one is compelled to say so. The value of every drop wasted today will be realised tomorrow. Instead of waiting for scarcity and then reacting, we must plan now, increase water storage, prevent leakage and promote careful use of water. Otherwise, as every year, there will be announcements and assurances, followed by water scarcity—and once again, we will discuss the same old problem.
Umakant Shetye, Khandola
