Midweek Musings 14, 11.03.2026

 

Planning Water Management

Traditional architecture is rich in natural resource management - Climate friendly and sustainable for energy and water consumption © Malini Shankar

By Malini Shankar

Digital Discourse Foundation

Karnataka Chief Minister presenting his record 17^th budget for the state has paid special attention to water supply in this year’s budget. The USP and special attention to this critical area of water management nevertheless still lacks attention to desilting dams and reservoirs and no emphasis has been laid on reuse of recycled water for primary usage.  The emphasis in the budget to development of more irrigation works lack sustainability. In today’s day and age the stage of nation building is over, we need to sustainably share resources today. How about creating a dam or reservoir only for harvested rain water Mr. Chief Minister? After all that would be sustainable and equitable redistribution of common property resources.

The critical need to regulate and restrict sinking of bore-wells / ground water usage cannot be delayed further. It begs for political attention in the imperative. Boom town rats seeking better employment opportunities / economic future rush into big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore Chennai bursting infrastructure in the cities at the seams. Housing, infrastructure roads, supply chain, water and sanitation and energy supply infrastructure have not been calibrated on a per capita basis for migrant population in India. This accounts for massive consumption of ground water resources without planning. This is quite literally bleeding the ground water table. Just because the Constitution gives the citizens the right to live anywhere does not comply with resource management. That means boom town rats become the new age untouchables living with stigma of poverty on the margins of upscale locals’ residential townships. Pardon the usage of this politically incorrect term.

The onus of replenishment of ground water table lies on the erudite educated sections of society and the political leadership. We need to think out of the box for simpler solutions to replenish the ground water table. Out of the box here means outside of conventional wisdom.  

Karnataka being the model state of development has pride in having initiated the Effluent / Sewage Treatment plants. This exists both in public and private sectors of management. However there is neither enough publicity nor promotion of this unique source of water supply. It has to be used for non-primary human consumption like construction, ACs, refrigerators, flush tank infrastructure and so on. Decreased usage of fresh water sources for wasteful usage like flush tanks means reduced stress on fresh water supply. Simultaneously low cost traditional architecture in construction will mean less cement used. That reduces emissions and becomes climate friendly and Climate Change adapted. That will   automatically reduce the need for air conditioning, reducing emissions further. It’s a connecting positive growth oriented cycle! Progressive highlighted by simple living and high thinking, utterly sustainable for all walks of society… I mean imagine flushing out precious fresh water every time one goes to the Loo! I find this conscience pricking.