Apropos the editorial, "Water: Missing the real point", despite India receiving more rainfall than the world average, the scarcity of water for drinking, agriculture and other purposes is becoming acute. Disputes over water sharing within the country is fomenting hatred among people of different states and worsening the law and order situation. Such situations arising due to scarcity of water are harmful to the federal and democratic set-up of the country.
The government must look at radical policies and regulations to control wastage as well as ensure judicious use of water. Conventional methods of cultivation need to be replaced with modern techniques, and timing of farming activities synchronised with the duration of the monsoon to take advantage of the rains.
Despite the need for harvesting rainwater, people don't take advantage of it. Awareness programmes are needed to instill the importance of preserving water and avoiding wastage. Regulations must be strengthened to punish those who waste and pollute water resources.
V S K Pillai, Changanacherry
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