"India on brink of water crisis, says climate panel", Times of India, Mumbai

The per capita water availability is projected to decline to about 1,140 cubic metres per year in 2050 from 1,820 cubic metres per year recorded in 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated in a report released recently. The IPCC has put out a warning specifically on the impact on freshwater sources for the world by culling all the scientific data it has earlier assessed. The warning comes at a time when the country is already recording a spate of water wars between states. It also states that reduced winter rains would lead to lower storage levels in India leading to a greater water stress during the lean monsoon period.

"Hogenakkal: writ in water", 7 th April 2008, Indian Express

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has put the Hogenakkal Project on hold until a government is elected in Karnataka. Ramaswamy R. Iyer writes that two things are clear about the project- First that it is supposed to be a drinking water project and among water used, drinking water has highest priority. the quantity of Cauvery water involved in this project is very small - 1.4thousand million cubic feet. - and it is also of benefit to some drought prone areas in Tamil Nadu. Second, Tamil Nadu claims that it is an approved project as it has Japanese funding available for the same. Then, however, the claim of raising a doubt rests on Yeddiyurappa's visit to the project adding dubious territorial dimensions to it. But what could Karnataka's objections be to the project? The backwater effects of the project. The Karnataka government also states that Tamil Nadu should not have taken up this project when the Cauvery water dispute is being heard in the Supreme Court

Neither Deve Gowda nor S. M. Krishna said a word in condemnation of of the violence. By ascribing it to a provocation by Karunanidhi, they seem implicitly to justify it. Violence in Karnataka followed by violence in Tamil Nadu. Commercial and passenger transport between the two states was disrupted. Film stars in both states began rallied and went on fasts. Trouble was spiralling out of control. At the Central level there was a deafening silence. Responses of all political leaders at all levels, local, state and national were determined by electoral calculations.

In reality, this is not a water issue at all. It is the eruption of a latent Kannadiga - Tamilian ill feeling.

"A pitcherful of poison: India 's water woes set to get worse", 13 th April 2008, Times of India

In a list of 122 countries rated on quality of potable water, India ranks a lowly 120. And although India has 4% of the world's water, studies show average availability is shrinking steadily. It is estimated that by 2020, India will become a water stressed nation. The Constitution makes it the State's duty to provide potable water to its citizens - a mandate that remains on paper for many folks in 21st century India . Nearly 50% of villages still do not have any source of protected drinking water, say experts. Government stats paint a different picture though.

According to the 2001 census, 68.2% households have access to safe drinking water. The department of drinking water supply estimates that 94% of rural habitations and 91% urban households have access to drinking water. But experts point out that these are misleading, simply because coverage refers to installed capacity and not actual supply. The quality of groundwater, which accounts for more than 85% of domestic supply - since none of the 140-plus gazetted rivers have water fit to drink - is a major problem in many areas.

Arsenic is the other big killer lurking in ground water, putting at risk nearly 10 million people. The problem is acute in Murshidabad, Nadia, North and South 24-Parganas, Malda and Bardhaman districts of West Bengal . In fact, the deeper aquifers in the entire Gangetic plains contain arsenic.

High nitrate content in water is another serious concern. Fertilisers, septic tanks, sewage tanks etc are the main sources of nitrate contamination. The groundwater in MP, UP, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi , Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has shown traces of nitrates.

However, it's bacteriological contamination - which leads to diarrhoea, cholera and hepatitis - that is most widespread in India . A WaterAid study of 950 sources of water in 300 villages revealed the presence of both fecal coliforms and fluoride in alarming proportions.

Experts say there are several ways to tackle the crisis. There is an urgent need to look for alternative sources of potable water in places where water quality has deteriorated sharply. Community-based water quality monitoring guidelines should be encouraged. As Barot says, "People should be encouraged to look at traditional methods of protecting drinking water sources; at times they work better." Also, in places where groundwater has arsenic or fluoride, surface water should be considered as an alternative. At least one or two safe drinking water sources in each village need to be protected. Simple steps like these could go a long way in saving lives.