Watergate politics is being played in the name of drought in our country in general and Maharashtra in particular. There is lot of hue and cry but people willing to pay are getting the required quantity of the precious fluid and farmers and the poor are deprived of drinking water because they don’t have the money. We have many distilleries in Maharashtra and the water meant for drinking which should be a priority is diverted to these establishments because of their purchasing power. The same is the case of five star hotels and swimming pools where there is no dearth of water even in these times of draught. Court cases on whom to be supplied with water is just for the diversion from the real issue. Infrastructure is the need of the hour and we need a lot many dams and other storage facilities to tackle the shortage of water in future. Also, technology should help convert ocean water for drinking purpose. Some areas receive good rainfall while others receive deficient rains. We need to have transport mechanism of water so that there is equitable distribution of water to all places. Let’s stop this politicization of water issue and come out with amicable solution to deal with the real issue of drought!
S.N. Kabra
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
