The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged people to take the pledge to save every drop of water on World Water Day. On this occasion, he has also appreciated all those individuals and organisations who are working towards saving water.
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said;
“Over the last few years, it is heartening to see water conversation become a mass movement, with innovative efforts taking place in all parts of the nation. I would like to appreciate all those individuals and organisations who are working towards saving water.”
“अद्भिः सर्वाणि भूतानि जीवन्ति प्रभवन्ति च।।
On World Water Day, let’s reaffirm our pledge to save every drop of water. Our nation is undertaking numerous measures like Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure water conservation and access to clean drinking water for our citizens.”
“माताओं और बहनों के जीवन को आसान बनाने में जल जीवन मिशन अत्यंत प्रभावी साबित हो रहा है। जन–जन की भागीदारी से घर-घर नल से जल पहुंचाने का संकल्प पूरा होगा।”
“Together, let’s further water conservation and contribute to a sustainable planet. Every drop saved helps our people and enhances our progress.”
The importance of water
World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater.
World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Groundwater, making the invisible, visible
This 2022, the focus is groundwater, an invisible resource with an impact visible everywhere.
Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, which are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that hold substantial quantities of water. Groundwater feeds springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands, and seeps into oceans. Groundwater is recharged mainly from rain and snowfall infiltrating the ground. Groundwater can be extracted to the surface by pumps and wells.
Life would not be possible without groundwater. Most arid areas of the world depend entirely on groundwater. Groundwater supplies a large proportion of the water we use for drinking, sanitation, food production and industrial processes.
It is also critically important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems, such as wetlands and rivers.
We must protect them from overexploitation – abstracting more water than is recharged by rain and snow – and the pollution that currently haunts them, since it can lead to the depletion of this resource, extra-costs of processing it, and sometimes even preventing its use.
Exploring, protecting and sustainably using groundwater will be central to surviving and adapting to climate change and meeting the needs of a growing population.
