THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 20 September 2019 (Pipe dreams, ground reality (The Hindu))

Pipe dreams, ground reality (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2 : Governance
Prelims level : Jal Jeevan Mission
Mains level : Water scarcity problem

Context

• Recently, the Indian government has launched the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024. The measures to be taken to achieve this should be understood.

Measures to be taken:

• About 70% of the water on the surface and underground is polluted in India and there is a need to stop polluting this water or there will be a need to install reverse osmosis systems everywhere which will be a costly affair altogether.
• The only unpolluted sources of water remaining in India includes waters underlying the floodplains of rivers (for bulk water) and the subterranean natural mineral water underlying forest tracts (for drinking).
• The Yamuna Palla floodplain scheme for Delhi which was initiated in 2009 by the Delhi Jal Board provides drinking water for Delhi, is potential enough to be replicated in other river cities like Varanasi, Allahabad etc.
• The water is collected by holding it around the roots of plants like organic food or fruit forests which hold a high amount of water instead of digging lakes which can disturb the ecology.
• The other source is the unpolluted water underlying forests which is purified by percolating through humus, leaf cover and rocks underground moving into natural aquifers below forests which can be drunk directly.
• Some examples of such aquifers in India include the hills around Visakhapatnam, Shimla hill ranges, even the Aravallis etc.
• This would be economical in comparison to RO water.

Way Ahead

• The water levels of flood plain aquifers should be such that they do not get contaminated by river water and thus they need monitoring.
• Stable water level maintenance of the aquifers under forests is the need of the hour to conserve them.
• The flood plain aquifers and forests aquifers should be declared water sanctuaries like national parks etc for better conservation and sustainable utilization.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) In context of the Indian economy, which of the following correctly defines the economic structure before 1991 reforms?
a) Closed economy with high private sector participation.
b) Closed economy with high public sector participation.
c) Open economy with high private sector participation.
d) Open economy with high public sector participation.

Answer: B
Mains Questions:
Q.1) How Floodplains and forest aquifers can provide natural mineral water and unpolluted bulk water for our cities?