Royal Siddhi village in Maharashtra state was facing severe drought for continuous years during 1970-80s. Resultingly, agriculture was badly hit as well as there was even a drinking water crisis. An old army retired person, also a resident of the same village, tried to do something for his village. He persuaded locals to build check dams, ponds, wells at different places. For this, he also donated his pension amount. Finally, his consistent effort started showing up the result and water came back to the village. Gradually, the water table started to rise and today that village is one of the persons and is none other than ‘Anna Hazare’.
He understood the fundamental problem behind the situation and tried to resolve it with very traditional practices.
If we scale up the situation, today the entire world is facing a problem with a water crisis. Despite 70% of the earth’s surface being water, the problem is getting intensified with each passing day. When we talk in India’s context, 4% of the global water resource is being shared by 18% of the global population. Further increasing population and changing climate scenario are going to make the situation further worse. As per NITI Aayog’s ‘Composite Water Management Index’, 70% of the population is facing a water crisis. Around 60% of water sources are polluted. According to the World Bank, per capita water availability dropped from 5000m3 in the 1950s to 1500m3 in 2010-20, which is going to decrease further by 2050. Uncontrolled, unsustainable water use practices, lack of awareness, and many other factors collectively have led to this situation. There are various modern and traditional solutions that need to be incorporated. In fact, understanding the gravity of the situation, the government has taken some good steps but more needs to be done.
Understanding the importance of water and employing solutions for conservation is not something new and prevalent in India since ancient times. Various archaeological extractions revealed that during Harappan times, people used to build Dams (Gahabandh), Reservoirs, wells for water storage. Dholavira in Gujarat was one of the famous sites.
During the Magadh Empire, various traditional systems like ‘Ahar Pyne’ in Bihar were introduced which are still prevalent today. Even in medieval times, Firoz Tughlag built many canals and Dams for agricultural purposes.
The modern period was no behind, Britishers constructed many dams all across India for the same purpose. The density of Canals for irrigation was significantly improved. Thus, the need is to replicate the same sensitivity and model all across India. But before this, we will look at the challenges prevalent.

CHALLENGES
Oceans, which constitute around 97% of all water sources, play a key role in the sustenance of life through weather control, habitat for marine biodiversity, absorption of additional CO2 from the atmosphere, and livelihood opportunities. Today it is facing challenges of sea level rise, ocean warming, ocean acidification, new dustbin for plastics. All of this has interested survivability threat over marine biodiversity, changes in weather patterns, more frequent and intense cyclonic.
Rivers, one of the key freshwater sources for most of the population. Additionally, they also help in flood control, provide fishing opportunities, etc. These rivers today are drying up as well as getting polluted. For example, Ganga has polluted to such a serious level at certain places that it is even unfit to bathe.
Springs – natural water sources in hilly regions. In mountainous regions, percolating water which props up to the surface due to the presence of an impermeable rock layer. They are today drying up rapidly. A recent Niti Aayog report has stated that the number of springs has declined significantly in the Himalayan region.
Groundwater, A vast proportion of the population globally is dependent on groundwater for their water needs. In India, around 60% of water for irrigation is from tube wells.
Overuse and poor water use efficiency have not only led to a decline in the groundwater table but also impacted the fertility of soil by salinization. On average, 70cm/year of water table is falling in India. In Punjab, it is around 110cm/year. It is estimated that by 2020, water tables in major metro cities like Chennai will dry up. The ‘Easement Act’ which permits a landowner to use water below it is another various causative factor for it. Furthermore, thermal power plants and households use water without any sense of responsibility.
Glaciers, After oceans, they are the second most significant water source, providing freshwater to a vast population as well as rivers. But global warming has led to their retreat. An ICIMOD report has shown that by the 2100s, one-third of the water in the Himalayan region will disappear.
Therefore, it is very much clear that the situation is critical and the root cause of all the problems mentioned above is ‘us’ only. Thus, it’s our responsibility to bring water to life again.

SOLUTIONS
For oceans, a collaborative global-level approach is required. In this regard, the role of UN Environment becomes important. Countries have to take self-moral obligations for taking steps that can control climate change and its impacts. The Paris Agreement and SDG Goals are commendable steps but it requires seriousness in adherence from countries especially western ones for plastic pollution. First of all campaigns by NGOs, civil society need to be initiated for beach cleaning, tapping of sewers opening up in the ocean and control over ocean tourism. Further collection of plastics trapped in queries has to be done on an immediate basis.
For rivers, containment of pollution can be done through tapping the sewers opening in it. Construction of sewage treatment plants should be done. Further for industries dumping chemicals directly into rivers needs to be checked through a strong mechanism.
To revive dried rivers, lowering of river table through dredging work needs to be done check dams should be constructed which will prevent water from immediately getting evaporated. For example, in Tamil Nadu, many local workers team under ‘MGNREGA’ revived a river employing the same processes.
Springs restoration can be done through spring shed Management which encompasses hydrological mapping, encouragement for terrace farming, creation of check Dams for it. For example – In Sikkim under Dhara Vikas Karyakram, many springs were brought back to life.
For groundwater, there is a need to hold water and to prevent it from getting evaporated. Creation of ponds, wells, canals and small dams across water tributaries. Further covering canals with solar panels will provide dual benefits. ‘Van Dhara’ scheme in Uttar Pradesh deals with all above for increasing groundwater table. Further us employing micro-irrigation techniques and climate-based farming will also complement the effort.
Rainwater Harvesting is another solution in this regard. All big houses and government institutions should install systems for collection of Rainwater.
Last but not least, awareness of the masses is very important. They need to understand the gravity of the problem and take steps in this regard.
The Indian government has taken various impatiens in this regard like constitution of Jal Shakti Ministry to take up water-related issues and deal with them holistically incentives to farmers 
‘Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme’ is another step in this regard, Himalayan spring development for restoration of springs, providing piped water supply to every household, etc.
As water scarcity will have a multidisciplinary impact, no one on earth can stay isolated from it. Thus, the need of the hour is to ‘save water to save earth’. This can be done by a more decentralized, participatory approach employing both traditional and modern techniques for it.