India turns around polluted waterbodies through 27 schemes

NEW DELHI, 29th September, 2024 (WAM) — India is turning around its severely polluted, encroached upon or dried up waterbodies as a major source for water security.

A one-year-long sample survey by India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of 250 waterbodies has revealed that 140 of these recorded remarkable recovery and are now “best cases” in this effort.

India has 2.4 million lakes, tanks and ponds, 97 percent of which are in rural areas, according to the first census of water resources completed last year.

“These waterbodies, their catchments and their feeder channels act as critical groundwater recharge zones, control flooding, and are home to unique biodiversity,” said Depinder Kapur, Director of CSE’s Water Programme.

The pioneering CSE survey in the wake of the first national water resources census “is a documentation, a celebration of the successful revival of these waterbodies – of what has worked, what has not, and what more can be done,” Kapur said.

India has initiated 27 schemes at the state and federal levels across the country to revive its waterbodies. The survey looks at the successes and shortcomings of these schemes.

Sunita Narain, CSE’s Director General, said, “We can turn around the water story of India, particularly in today’s time of climate change. We need to protect our forests and green spaces and this is how water recharge will increase.”

“We need to revive our lakes and ponds, the sponges that will allow us to harvest the rain-flood and ensure that it does not turn into wasted water,” she said.

The CSE is India’s foremost public interest organisation, which researches the urgency of development that is sustainable and equitable.

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