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Scarce
and unnatural
Today, water is an increasingly scarce
resource. And the scarcity is very real. There is cause for alarm,
but not for alarm-mongering.
Freshwater: a scarce resource
Only 2.5 per cent of all the world’s water is fresh, ie. fit
for human consumption, agriculture and industry. In several parts
of the world, however, water is being used at a much faster rate than
can be replenished by rainfall. In 2025, the per capita water availability
in India will be reduced to 1500 cubic metres from 5000 in 1950.
The United Nations warns that this shortage of freshwater could be
the most serious obstacle to producing enough food for a burgeoning
world population, reducing poverty and protecting the environment.
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In troubled waters
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| About 450 million people in
31 countries (shaded) face a serious water shortage |
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Bleak future
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| About 2.8 billion people in
48 countries (shaded), including India, are expected to face
water shortages |
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