April issue of National Geographic tells us that we are draining the aquifers much more quickly than the natural recharge rate. This made me sit and think as to how and what will really be the future course for hundreds and thousands of those underprivilege people who do not even get a drop of water to drink.
This is Rajon Ki Baoli in Mehrauli Archaeological Park in south Delhi.
It is a well known fact that 75 per cent of the Earth is water. Of this, even if we consider that 70 per cent of fresh water is locked in ice around the poles, till recently, there was never a crisis for something which has become the most essential commodity. At least, the scenario in India is dreadful.
And when I say, till recently, it is a relative term. For such a long span of human habitation vis-a-vis organised living, a time frame of around 50-60 years or at the most 100 years is a very short time.
India has had traditional wisdom by way of closed, underground step wells - locally known as Baolis or Baodis. These were one of the best practices, specially across North India's Rajasthan, arid Gujarat and several areas in Haryana and today's Delhi too.
As on date, this has been running dry for several years now but then, the custodian of this beautiful stone step well, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has claimed to have cleaned it after a court order to do so.
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