In Search of Alternative Sources of Water


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

In Search of Alternative Sources of Water

In Search of Alternatives

A scenario of shortages and acute crisis during the summer months is common to other cities of India. The shortage in municipal water is increasingly being filled by an expansion of private companies who are selling water for profit. Also common are the great inequalities in water use. The supply of water per person in an urban area in India should be about 135 liters per day (about seven buckets) a standard set by the urban water commission. Whereas people in slums have to make do with less than 20 liter is a day per person (one bucket), people living in luxury hotels may consume as much as 1,600 liter’s (80 buckets) of water per day.

A shortage of municipal water is often taken as a sign of failure of the government. Some people argue that since the government is unable to supply the amount of water that is needed and many of the municipal water departments are running at a loss, we should allow private companies to take over the task of water supply. According to them, private companies can perform better.

Consider the following facts:

1. Throughout the world, water supply is a function of the government. There are few instances of private water supply.

2. There are areas in the world where public water supply has achieved universal access. (See box below)

3. In a few cases, where the responsibility for water supply was handed over to private companies, there was a steep rise in the price of water, making it unaffordable for many. Cities saw huge protest, with riots breaking out in places like, Bolivia, forcing the government to take back the service from private hands. Within India, there are cases of success in government water departments, though these are few in number and limited to certain areas of their work. The water supply department in Mumbai raises enough money through water charges to cover its expenses on supplying water.

Conclusion

Public facilities relate to our basic needs and the Indian constitution recognizes the right to life. Thus one of the major roles of the government is to ensure adequate public facilities to everyone.

 
 
 


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