World Water Day Programme Highlights Importance of Water for Peace at ICAR-IARI

World Water Day, since its inception back in 1993, has become an annual event celebrated every March 22nd, aiming to educate people about the significance of freshwater. The main goal of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. The ICAR-IARI also celebrated World Water Day 2024 on this Year’s Theme – ‘Water for Peace’ at Water Technology Centre Auditorium, ICAR-IARI New Delhi.

Various eminent personalities, including Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR, Dr. A K Singh, Director of ICAR-IARI, Dr. P. K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner and other distinguished guests, came together to advocate for 'Water for Peace'. The insightful discussions centered on fostering sustainable water systems, combating water pollution, and addressing groundwater depletion.

In his address, Dr A.K. Singh highlighted the detrimental impact of flood irrigation and advocated for improved water use efficiency, suggesting drip & sprinkler irrigation as good alternatives, particularly in water-deficient regions. He highlighted the disparity in adopting water-saving irrigation methods between water-affluent and water-deficient regions, attributing it to a lack of awareness about water conservation.

Dr Singh underscored the urgent need for education and policy interventions to address this issue. Additionally, he raised concerns about water quality degradation in certain regions, citing industrial discharge of untreated wastewater as a major cause. This practice, involving the pumping of polluted water into drill holes up to 300 feet deep, contributes significantly to groundwater pollution.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Himanshu Pathak stressed the significance of World Water Day, highlighting the theme's relevance in today's world where ‘Water’ and ‘Peace’ both are crucial for human well-being. He underscored the historical importance of water, noting that ancient civilizations thrived near riverbanks like the Harappa and Mesopotamia.

Dr. Pathak emphasized the crucial role of water in progress, mentioning that India's geography is blessed with water sources from three sides and Himalayan rivers originating from the northern mountain ranges. Moreover, he pointed out the decreasing precipitation rate from Punjab to the northeastern states, yet areas with high precipitation face challenges in accessing drinking water, emphasizing the need for efficient water utilization.

Action Plan for Accelerating Sustainable Water Resource Development and Management Plan for the Agriculture Sector

• Enhancing per capita water storage through the revival of water bodies

• Water conservation and management plans for the rainfed regions

• Sustainable water management through natural farming and rejuvenation of indigenous traditional water harvesting structures

• Design of optimal cropping patterns for the efficient utilization of water resources

• Enhancing water use efficiency in potential areas for micro irrigation

Groundwater Issues & Challenges

• 70 Percent of water is confined in alluvial areas that occupy 30 percent of geographical areas of the country

• Limited availability and sustainability in hard rock areas

• Low recharge potential and resource availability in arid areas and under-utilization of resources in humid eastern states

• Heavy dependence on groundwater leading to over-exploitation and groundwater level depletion

Dr. P. K. Singh emphasized that regions with high precipitation often overlook the importance of water conservation, leading to drought conditions. Bengaluru is currently grappling with a severe water crisis, prompting discussions on crop diversification. However, changing farming patterns is challenging for farmers. There's a pressing need to strategize how to enhance water use efficiency. The government is also implementing piped irrigation systems to improve water usage efficiency.