South India is in the grip of an unprecedented water crisis. Sample these facts: The combined water level in 150 primary reservoirs across South India is at 38% of total capacity. Reservoir levels in Andhra Pradesh are 69% below average, Tamil Nadu 30% below, Karnataka 24% below, and Telangana 12% below average. Kerala is the only state with reservoir levels slightly above average, at 1%.
Major reservoirs like Linganamakki, Supa, and Tungabhadra in Karnataka are filled at 22%, 36%, and 5% of their capacities respectively. Srisailam reservoir on the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border is 15% full, and Nagarjuna Sagar dam is 4% full. Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu is filled to 28% capacity. Major dams in Kerala are only 50% filled, including Idamalayar (48% full), Idukki (47% full), Kallada, and Kakki (both 50% full). In Bengaluru, 6,900 out of 13,900 borewells have dried up despite being drilled up to 1,500 feet.
Over 40% of Bengaluru residents might lack access to drinking water by the end of the decade.
South India’s water crisis has led to high vegetable costs and impacted property decisions in Bengaluru.
A man-made crisis
Speaking to Radiance, veteran journalist and editor Maqbool Ahmed Siraj, known for his insightful commentary on societal issues, shed light on the main reasons behind the current water crisis in South India. Siraj co-authored the first chapter – “Water in Islam” in the book “Water and Scriptures – Ancient Roots for Sustainable Development”. In the book, Siraj talked about the ancient water laws in the Ottoman Empire and the innovative water-related devices in Iran.
Siraj brought out the forgotten contribution of Islamic scholars in the development of water-technology such as Imam Abul Izz al-Jazari, who built machines to raise the level of water through watermills and water wheels with the help of cams.
According to Siraj, the whole water crisis of South India is completely man-made and a result of greed and corruption emanating from the builder-politician nexus. He explained that in India, the two main sources of water are rivers and monsoon rains. North India draws its lifeblood from the Himalayan rivers, while Central India depends on the Vindhayas. However, the water sources sustaining South India emanate from the Western Ghats – a region currently plagued by extensive deforestation and unchecked urban expansion. Siraj emphasized that the loss of forest cover in the Western Ghats has disrupted the natural hydrological cycle, leading to surface runoff that fails to replenish groundwater reserves crucial for the region’s survival.
Siraj felt that Bengaluru epitomizes the consequences of unchecked development. He pointed out that the city’s rivers have been reduced to open sewers, with chronic rainfall shortages exacerbating groundwater depletion. The city’s burgeoning population of 1.4 crores (equivalent to 1% of India’s population) is experiencing uninhabitable living conditions. Borewells that once struck water at 80 feet now require drilling up to 1400 feet – a dire indicator of unsustainable water consumption. Raising concerns over the unholy alliance between builders and politicians, where corrupt practices thrive under the guise of urban expansion, Siraj asserted that the unregulated exploitation of groundwater resources, coupled with rampant construction activities, had created a perfect storm of environmental degradation and civic irresponsibility.
Environment protection – the key
The Gadgil Commission officially known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), was established by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests in March 2010 to develop a plan for protecting the Western Ghats, a region of significant ecological importance for South India. The committee’s recommendations were aimed at conserving the Western Ghats and addressing the environmental challenges in the region.
The commission suggested a complete eco-sensitive cover of the Western Ghats. The region’s rivers, including the Godavari, Nethravathi, Krishna, Vaigai, Kaveri, and others, have their origins in the Western Ghats. Therefore, the conservation and sustainable management of the Western Ghats are directly linked to the availability and quality of water resources in South India. The commission came down heavily on pollution, over-extraction, and unsustainable development practices.
However, the Gadgil report was considered more environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities. It was criticized for its focus on conservation rather than development. The government then set up the Kasturirangan Commission in August 2012, which reduced the area designated as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats from 64% (recommended by Gadgil report) to only 37%.
The Kasturirangan report diluted the environmental regulations proposed by the Gadgil report, aiming to balance development and environmental protection concerns. The Gadgil report had proposed comprehensive guidelines for sector-wise activities in ecologically sensitive zones, while the Kasturirangan report moved away from this approach. However, the Kasturirangan report did recommend prohibition of development activities in a 60,000 km2 ecologically sensitive area across six states (Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu).
Islamic teachings about water
Water conservation holds great importance in Islamic teachings that emphasize the responsible and moderate use of this vital resource. In Islam, water is regarded as a gift and mercy from Allah (God) and is essential for sustaining life. There are several verses in the Quran and many Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that highlight the significance of water conservation.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not waste water even if you perform your ablution on the banks of an abundantly-flowing river” (Ibn Majah).
Man has been bestowed the responsibility of “khilafat” (viceregency) of the earth and the protection of its precious resources. In Sura Kahf, we have the story of an ungrateful garden-owner who boasts of his material possessions and denies the Hereafter. The depletion of ground water is cited by the virtuous friend of the garden-owner as a punishment from Allah. He warns his friend the garden-owner that – “It may well be that my Lord will give me something better than your vineyard, and send a calamity upon your vineyard from the heavens and it will be reduced to a barren waste, or the water of your vineyard will be drained deep into the ground so that you will not be able to seek it out.”(Quran 18:40,41).
Unbridled greed and the unsustainable exploitation of material resources are bound to lead to water scarcity. Man cannot be convinced to adhere to “green” principles and sustainable eco-practices till he undergoes a moral transformation and spiritual renaissance.