Written by In development of a country, using and protecting the natural resources plays a major part. To change the climate from going through drastic negative changes the world has readily accepted solar. However, it is also important for a country to focus towards protecting its water resources to support its economic growth while ensuring sustainability. Within Asia, India and its south Asian neighbours are blessed with huge reserves of natural water. However, due to lack of an infrastructure to distribute the water carefully and equally, the countries still suffer from scarcity of water from time to time. Statistics show that availability of water per capita in India has reduced by almost 70% since 1950. And while move towards industrialisation and economic development has gained importance, population growth and inefficiency in water use has resulted into water scarcity in regions.
Global Scenario
Research statistics show that increasing stress and degradation of climate mainly due to fossil fuel combustion, is affecting economic growth of South Asia, and seems to be leading to prolonged water scarcity in the near future.
The United Nation has recognized protection and efficient use of water as an important goal to establish and maintain sustainable development. The World leaders are starting to understand that setting a dedicated global goal for water is a necessity now, because water is a global resource and even if one country is left out of the development process, it will have negative impacts on the sustainability of the climate, which the whole world shares.
The developed and developing countries are banding together to create an international cooperation for saving the water resources for the global good. Information, methods are being shared and investments are being made to support better water harvesting, wastewater treatment, recycling, and sanitation-related activities and programmes. Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations have set a timeline of 2030 to incorporate changes that can assure climate sustainability and allow developing and developed countries alike to initiate economic development initiatives without hindrance.
Joining Hands and Resolving Disputes
There are 12 major river systems and a number of small rivers that go through India. And as the country is agrarian in nature, the demand of water is very high. Lack of technical competence to efficiently use the water doesn’t seem to satisfy the requirements thus creating an unnecessary demand for more of it. The similar scenario is seen in the neighbourhood countries of India, which leads to disputes for claim on the water.
India is moving towards the right way by choosing solar. Renewable energy shift can revolutionize India’s energy scenario and bring in socio-economic growth. However, to complete the transition, India also needs to focus on its use of natural resources as well. Developing an efficient water management is very important to ensure water security and also to share the natural resource to other countries.
Inter-sectoral water cooperation is also necessary as it can help the country understand the best way to divide the water into different sectors such as- Agriculture, Construction, Mining, Energy and Industry. Efficient usage and water protection rights will stop it from being misused or wasted.
Solar Has Made It Easier
Conventional energy generation process uses a lot of water (1.90 liters/kWh for Coal, and 1.60 liters/kWh for oil, and 2.30 liters/kWh for generating energy from Nuclear). And besides using up water, the kilotons of toxic waste produced by the conventional power plants annually contaminate rest of the water sources.
In this scenario, choosing solar as the mainstream energy source can win the battle for climate improvement, as it is a water free energy generation system. Additionally, solar can make it easier to send water to the cities, states or even countries which are in need of it by reducing cost of pumping water through solar water pumping solutions.
So, it seems that India is standing upon the perfect opportunity to not just better its socio-economic progress, impacting climate a positive way, the country can inspire other developing and developed countries to establish sustainability through protecting and efficient use of natural resources.
http://wsds.teriin.org/water-cooperation.php
Share your thoughts with me on this at @gyaneshc.
VikramSolar 