mid-day editorial: Saving water is everyone's duty

With the drought in our state, and the resulting controversy over IPL matches being shifted out, water is uppermost on everyone's mind. Although there have been some reports that we can expect a good monsoon this year, with normal to above normal rainfall, this happy news is just on paper.

For now, water cuts are widespread, and some places are battling such severe shortage that the state is sending water trains to bail them out. Many Mumbaikars think that water shortage is a problem for farmers and those living in the rural belt, and that it will not affect us too much. But as large-scale immigration to the city becomes evident, it has become all the more important to make water conservation a part of day-to-day living.

Water conservation must become an urgent topic in schools and this message should be constantly reinforced through the TV as well. Little things like turning off the tap instead of keeping it running idly, using buckets instead of showers for bathing, or using non-potable water for other uses instead of just throwing it out - these are all ways we can make saving water a part of our lives.

There are citizens who mean well but are genuinely confused at how exactly they can be a part of the save water movement. Social media is an efficacious tool to spread this conservation message. It has to be made clear that everybody has a stake in this issue, and it is no longer somebody else's problem.

Some time ago, civic authorities had stressed that residential societies should take rain harvesting seriously, and new buildings must have rain-harvesting facilities. We need a more robust implementation of this. The need of the hour is to involve all citizens in the mission, and to ensure minimum confusion on how each individual can play a role.

Clarity, accessibility and awareness are key to conservation, and each little step, each drop will go some way in saving that precious bucket that could mean so much to parched throats in dark, dry spells.