Clouds in the sky refuse to bring down our much-needed drinking water. When it rains, it is limited to certain areas. This pattern has become noticeable in the last 2-3 years. Rainfall is no longer widespread, rather isolated to specific regions, and then suddenly stops. Previously, rain had a rhythm, gradually spreading across a region. This changing weather pattern is a cause for concern. Temperature is rising. Even at night, it does not drop below 25 degrees. This situation raises doubts about sustainability, especially as our interconnected world means that issues in one place can have global impacts much like the pandemic. Despite this, many of us continue with our daily routines without acknowledging the looming crisis. It is time to wake up and address these issues in reality rather than just on social media.
In this monsoon season, once again, the IMD’s prediction went wrong. It had mentioned that due to the El Nino factor, we could expect 106% more rain this year, bringing happiness to the country’s farmers for the prospect of more rainfall than last year. However, nature played mischief. India has not yet received enough monsoon rains. If the catchment areas of dams do not receive enough water to supply urban citizens, there is a risk of a tragedy unfolding. In Bengaluru, several places have not had drinking water last month. In Delhi, after a heatwave, there was a flood, but still no drinking water. The Delhi minister is on strike to obtain water from other States like Haryana.
The IMD issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rain on 06/07 July for Mumbai and its suburbs. Raigad, Mumbai, and Thane received light to moderate rain the previous week. The water stock in the seven lakes that supply water to the city marked stock at 10.88%, or 1.57 lakh million litres by the 6th of July morning. Mumbai suburbs recorded a 36% deficit, whereas Mumbai itself recorded a 40% deficit compared to actual rainfall at the end of the first week of July. As we near mid-July, by this time, rain is supposed to become moderate to strong. Unfortunately, humidity is increasing but there is no rainfall.
As citizens, we look to the government to take us in the right direction. The public expects the government to understand the reality and make strong decisions. However, in reality, they seem unaware of nature and its consequences, as they are caught up in political disputes. To date, neither the parliament nor any legislative assembly has had a good debate on this issue. Therefore, the country should not expect much from them in this matter. They may only intervene in rescue operations after a tragedy occurs, a task that will require a significant size of funds. However, I bet they will likely have to address this issue in the future, potentially making it a subject of election campaigns. Strong steps are needed now to save ourselves and future generations. Water conservation should be a top priority, and an immediate ban on plastic usage is necessary. Pollution must be controlled at the source, with strict actions against polluting companies, and unnecessary development should be halted. If we do not take strong measures to protect the planet, it will lead to a disaster for all of us.
I believe pollution is the primary culprit for the lack of rainfall and the erratic weather patterns we are experiencing. The government needs to take strict actions to control pollution. Implementing a mild lockdown to observe changes could potentially reduce heat levels and lead to more significant rainfall. Waiting for a disaster to strike before acting is not a viable solution.