10.-Urban water supply- A major challenge to India

Abstract

Water is the prime requisite of all the developmental activities. Ever since pre-historic period man has been exploiting water resources uninterruptedly for their requirement. Indiscriminate use of water has created an imbalance in the environment. Large scale migration leads to over crowding of cities and growth of slumps. Presently, nearly 25% of the total population of the country is residing in urban areas. Marked growth of urban population is a common phenomenon. Consequently, large scale exploitation of water resources has taken place during the post independence period to meet the drinking water need in urban areas of the country. The drinking water need is mostly met through ground water on account of easy accessibility, dependability and comparatively lower cost of exploitation . Ground water sources is under severe stress in almost every town of the country which is reflected through continuous lowering of the water table. More so, man's intervention with the nature has resulted in environmental degradation, pollution of water resources. both ground water as well as surface water. The studies carried out by the World Bank indicate that most of the diseases are in some or from related to poor quality of water in use for human consumption.

The management and conservation of water resources to be given a serious thought. The timely action is warranted in this regard, otherwise, the day is not far off when the human being will have to depend upon rationed supply of water. The use of polluted water may result in serious health hazard.