In India, more than 100 million people are facing a severe water crisis. Thousands of people have abandoned their villages in search of water as handpumps are running dry due to temperatures soaring as high as 45 degree Celsius. 

Every now and then, the government and individuals across India have come up with out of the box ideas to find a permanent solution to the unending water crisis. Innovators have come up with solutions like capping water supply and rainwater harvesting, which has proved to be fruitful in the long run. 

In one such move to save water, the Uttar Pradesh government, on Thursday, July 18, issued an order to serve half-filled glasses of water in all offices and canteens at the state Secretariat in Lucknow.

The Official Order

In an official order, effective from Thursday, the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Pradip Dubey said that the Assembly speaker has instructed to keep only half-filled glasses of water to minimise wastage of water.

“It has been directed by the Assembly Speaker that initially only half-filled glasses of water will be kept in the state secretariat. It is often seen that people do not drink the entire water from the glass,” the order said. 

A similar scheme has been adopted by several restaurants in Maharashtra, where they offer only a half-filled glass of water to prevent water wastage.

PM has urged people to save water in the past

In the first edition of  “Mann ki Baat”, after 2019 General Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 30 had stressed upon the need of water conservation through both indigenous and modern means.

“Water crisis hits many parts of the nation every year. You will be surprised that only 8% of the rain water in the whole year is harvested in our country,” the PM had said.

In the radio broadcast, Modi, emphasising on the importance of newly formed Jal Shakti Ministry, had said that the ministry will ensure speedy resolution of water-related issues. The Prime Minister also urged the individuals and NGO’s to come up with new ideas of water conservation.

“I would like to make 3 requests to all, including eminent people from all walks of life to create awareness on water conservation. Share info of traditional methods of water conservation. If you know about any individuals or NGOs working on water, do share about them so that we can create a database of those who can help when the need arises,” Modi said. 

Initiatives for water conservation

Earlier this month, the Delhi government emulating a water treatment model inspired by Singapore, laid the foundation stone to set up the country’s largest Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Okhla.

Under the initiative, water treated by the STP will be let into the Yamuna at Palla and collected at Wazirabad.

Presently, a supply of 900 MGD (Million Gallon Daily) is available in the capital city against the demand for 1100 MGD of water.

Similarly, people in Rajasthan have created small ponds in their farms for water harvesting, which has brought a huge change in the lives of the people.

In Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 20,000 women have joined hands and are working continuously in order to revive Naga river.  

Also Read: Chennai Water Crisis: “Get A Bucket Of Water, For Every Kilo Of Idli-Dosa Batter”