Question

Needless to say that water will perhaps be the scarcest commodity of the 21st century. On global

scale it is assessed that over the next two decades, water use by human beings will increase by

40% and that 17% more water will be needed to grow more food for the increasing population.

Water if finite in nature and the quantum of water cannot be increased. The World Water Vision

Commission drew attention to the ‘gloomy arithmetic of water’, as water demand will outstrip its

availability. As such State of Art and innovative technologies have to be developed for reducing

wastage of water and recycling waste water. There is need for a Water Secure World and to

achieve this objective 5000 experts had gathered in Hague in March 2000 to prepare a policy

document on this subject. And they have indeed provided very useful guidelines.

2. The scenario of water in India is equally gloomy. Against our requirement of about 2788 billion

cu. metres of water annually by 2050, availability of water will only be about 2300 billion cu.

metres including that from the ground water sources. The problem is further compounded by the

fact that only 15-16% of water resources have been developed thus leaving a very large gap

thereby emphasizing the need for conservation and preservation of water.

3. As regards the drinking water scenario although it is claimed that 83% of urban population and

90% of rural population is covered, the sustainable availability, coverage and quality of water

carry a big question mark.

4. The situation on the sanitation front is far worse, so much so that even Metro cities have not been

fully covered with underground sewerage. My visit to several cities and towns as a consultant to

the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed that even though the

water supply and sanitation facilities are available, these are either not working or operating at

very low efficiency. The main reason being lack of skills and shortage of funds. This has

resulted in untreated wastewater flowing into drains and rivers and other water bodies. We have

before us a really grim scenario of polluted rivers and water bodies. The problem is further

compounded due to discharge of untreated wastewater from industries and dumping of solid

waste. These issues need to be addressed more effectively and at the earliest.

5. The Government of India and State Governments are addressing these serious problems. The

World Bank, ADB and other funding agencies are also supporting several schemes in the fields

of agriculture and water supply and sanitation to cities and towns. But the magnitude of funds

required for outstrips the funds available. In the Ninth Five Year Plan alone, there was a gap to

the tune of about Rs. 39,000 crores in this field. A time has come when the private sector should

start playing an active role. There is a need to induct private investment and management in the

sector and to improve the efficiency.

There is a huge scope for such private involvement in the water industry. Privatisation is not the

panacea of all ills but this could be a way for change end improvement. As a safeguard against

any abuse and misuse there is a need to build necessary checks and balances.





Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following. Write only the answers

in your answer sheets.

(a) amount that is requires/desired (para 1) …………………………….

(b) become larger (para 1) ……………………………….

(c) Imagined sequence of future events (para 3) ……………………….

(d) Depressing unpleasant events (para 4) ……………………………..​

Answer 1

Answer:

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