Expert Insights

Dr. Arun Kansal: Dean at TERI

Via an enlightening correspondence between Dr. Kansal and our team, we were able to garner new perspectives on a gamut of sub-issues pertaining to Water.

For starters, he outlined that India's water consumption was mostly in the agriculture sector(roughly 80% of our supply is devoted to it). India's largest water sorrow is that of water scarcity(albeit Water contamination is a looming threat and has already shown to be lethal and widespread), and is exacerbated by our low per capita capacity for storing water(a fifth of Australia's).

Dr. Kansal discussed that water contamination was a result of poor management systems, and that 60% of our sewage goes through open drains, and can polluter groundwater after percolating into the aquifer below. Our cleansing systems, for example, are not equipped to manage Ammonia as a contaminant, and therefore the government's response to these threats is to curb their source. He also verified the fact that pesticides and agriculture run-off contributes to water contamination, and inadequate water management capacity. Through a more social lens, Dr. Kansal mentioned that water was perceived as a public good(a product/service that all are entitled to the usage of, and one the government must supply), and not an economic resource(a good that is scarce, and is therefore supplied to those who pay). The fact that water is perceived as an entitlement obscures our responsibility to regulate our own usage.

He pointed out many loopholes in the system which were restricting the water quality and quantity from reaching its maximum potential.

1. The pesticides in the ground seep into the water through canals (basically muddy drain structures). This water is then consumed by domestic households. The canals are further left unprotected because of the limited revenue the committee of irrigation gets

2. The sewage waste is high in morbidity and waste. Only 40% of the sewage is treated while rest enters water bodies. Furthermore, the cleaning of the 40% sewage is unmonitored

3. Water is thoroughly cleaned in water plants which haven't been updated for many years. The water is supplied to the beneficiaries in tankers. While the water starting from the plant is clean, the hygiene of water tankers is unmonitored.

Finally, Dr. Kansal stated that Antibiotics, Medicines and Nano-particles in cosmetics(along with other cosmetic ingredients that can be introduced to wastewater via drains(after cosmetics are cleaned offare contaminants that may assert a stronger presence in the future.