As per a report of the United Nations, India is heading towards a serious water crisis by 2025. But at the same if from now on water resources are utilised properly, then the country will not have any water problem till at least 2050, said P. Jagadeeswara Rao of the Department of Geo-Engineering, Andhra University College of Engineering.
Delivering inaugural address at a two-day national seminar on ‘Remote sensing in water resources evaluation and sustainable management’ organised on the occasion of World Water Day by the Department of Geo-Engineering, here on Wednesday, Prof. Jagadeeswara Rao said, “Conservation is the need of the hour. Tapping of water from other sources is the next step.” According to him, if a tap leaks a drop of water per second, then in 24 hours the total leakage and wastage of water would be 24 litres.
Giving a comparative statement, Prof. Jagadeeswara Rao said, “In developed countries agriculture consumes about 30 % of water and comparatively in India it is 80%. This indicates that we still follow the age-old systems and much water is wasted. We have to move towards scientific methods of agriculture and target crops that require less water.”
“While the population has increased by about 200 % since 1947, the available water resources have shrunk drastically and the water pollution has increased rapidly,” Prof. Jagadeeswara Rao said.
Elaborating on the pollution aspect, K.S. Sastry, Deputy Director, Groundwater and Water Audit, said 80 % of the diseases are caused by contaminated water. AU Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao, HoD of the Department E. Ammineedu spoke.
