World Water Day: Two sides of Odisha

Odisha has seen it all – from experiencing ground water depletion to drinking water scarcity, to droughts, the state has for years been going through the water crisis.

Pre-summer and during the summer season, every year pictures of people in rural as well as urban areas suffering due to groundwater level depletion and insufficient supply of drinking water, have surfaced. Study reveals that groundwater depletion alone contributes about 0.8mm per year to the swelling of ocean levels.

The state government has assured to ensure 100 per cent tap water connection to households in all urban areas in Odisha by December 2023. Government says even the rural households will have access to safe and piped drinking water by next year.

But at the same time, water wastage has become a matter of serious concern. These scenes are from the millennium city Cuttack. Such pictures of water-wastage when there is massive demand for clean and safe water underlines the fact that citizens are equally responsible for the water crisis.

Experts are of the opinion that there is need for enforcement drive to check on callous citizens, and if required govt should penalize whosoever is found responsible. Awareness drive on necessity of water conservation all 365 days of the year is the need of the hour.

No doubt government has to play a big role in curbing the water crisis, but it is also the people’s attitude and perspective that needs to change first before a bigger crisis makes things worse for all.

Published: Devbrat Patnaik

Last updated: 22 March 2023, 11:19 PM IST