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Water, India, Mumbai...Future???

Every day we read about the Water Crisis around the world. 2018 included news of Day 0 (the day when a city or regions runs out of water) for Cape Town and our very own Shimla. We hear of farmer suicides across India - one of the main causes is lack of water for their crops (I know oversimplifying a complex issue).  Our groundwater is at the lowest levels ever. Yet we are not seeing a comprehensive a water management or water conservation policy from the center or the states. But last week, we took a step in the right direction with a new ministery for Jal Shakti. Hope at last India will look at its water resources holistically which is the desperate need of the hour.

I will be the first to admit; I don't conserve my water use. I try but I think I can do better. I let my son play in our shower for 15 -  20 minutes almost every day. But he is so happy when he is playing there. I believe we all deserve these simple pleasures. And we, Mumbaikars, can afford it if we manage our water resources better. We are blessed that we get ample rain each monsoon and we have the lakes to collect them. Moreover, most of the city is connected with a vast network of water distribution system.  We might not realize most Indian cities don't even have that. Ask people in Bengaluru and Chennai (It makes me so mad that these "educated cities" don't have a system). Plus the quality of the clean water produced by our municipal corporation is world class (our distribution pipes are a separate issue)

Mumbai is in a great geographical position to have a holistic and sustainable water supply program that can support generations. We get enough rain each monsoon to last us a year, which is better than most places in the world.  We have enough lakes to store them. We are surrounded by an ocean which can also be a source of water. The city generates millions of liters of wastewater (sewer) that is now released into the oceans, which can be recycled. The monsoon within city limits generates lots of runoff which can also be collected to recharge our groundwater and/or treated for certain uses. Currently, we don't do any of this (or maybe in bits and parts). Lot of "activists" are fighting for parts of this or all of it. But I believe fighting is not the right way. We need to collaborate with all the stakeholders. My friends who have worked or have experience with BMC's water department tell me that they have smartest guys working there. I guess politics and other bureaucratic red hold them back. Also, building anything in our metropolis is a nightmare. We need to engage with them smartly and with patience to develop a holistic program.

Another side effect of a holistic water program is jobs. Water sectors can create lots of good paying (digital) jobs for the youth - be it in planning, construction, operations or maintenance. These jobs will also support adjacent markets which will be also digitally enabled like billing, customer supports, water analytics, smart water elements, etc and create jobs in them. Sorry, I digressed!

Right now, if we have money or power, we can get water in Mumbai. But if we keep doing nothing, a day will come when no amount of money or power will get anyone water. Nature does not discriminate. I would love to hear from all of you out there who would be kind enough to talk to or engage with me on this topic. With your help, I hope to make a contribution to Mumbai's water future. I have so much to learn but I have the energy (and knowledge) to make a difference. 

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