Water Wars Already Starting in India

The idea of wars being fought over water just as they’ve been fought over oil may still seem foreign to a nation full of people who regularly waste millions of gallons of it just on watering useless lawns. But, water wars are already a reality in India where a water crisis has caused escalating violence and several deaths.

Climate change has altered rainfall patterns in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, a situation made even worse by inequity in the water distribution system.

From Eco Worldly:

This has led to a spurt in water related violence and conflicts so shocking, we thought they were predicted to take place only in the next 50 years. The local incident mentioned in the news report above was one among many where a mob of about six people killed a family for illegally drawing water from the municipal supply even as onlookers rushed back and forth to collect water before the pipe ran dry.

The incident, which occurred in a below poverty line (BPL) settlement, is yet another validation of how climate change is having much more impact on the poor, especially in the developing world.

Since 2008, the duration and frequency of rainfall in major parts of the state of Madhya Pradesh has been decreasing. Water levels in all major water bodies in have fallen to alarming levels. As a result, most parts of the state including the capital city of Bhopal is receiving almost half of the volume of water required to fulfill the population’s needs. The poor are the most impacted and drinking water is being supplied only about once every 4-5 days in the slums and other poorer localities

It’s incredibly unfair that so many communities of people living in extreme poverty are forced to fight for meager amounts of water just to survive while we Westerners waste it without a thought. We need to put a higher value on water, or soon, situations like this will begin escalating around the world.

It’s already too late to stop some of the effects of climate change and of our own cavalier attitude about this most basic element of life. But, we can lessen their impact. The fight against climate change, our own efforts to conserve as much water as possible and contributions to water-related charities like charity:water make a huge difference. Do your part!

Link [Eco Worldly]
Photo credit: Hindustan Times

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