Impact of Climate Change on Safe Portable Water in West Bengal

Abstract

Water is one of the most important natural resource which has multi dimensional purpose, viz., agriculture, industrial need, household purpose, drinking, etc. It serves as the habitat for many species of living organisms which indirectly are explioted for food and economic growth. Climate change and pollution are depleting safe portable water all across the globe. Melting glaciers, rising sea level, oil spills, etc., are major threats to depletion of fresh water reservoir, sinking of costal shorelines and destruction of habitats for numerous species. Over population has lead to increasing demand for water, thereby utilising ground water excessively, which again makes it prone to arsenic contamination, health hazards, etc. At present, India is failing to provide seven crore people safe portable water, with West Bengal toping this chart of deficiency. The increasing incidence of oil spill in Sundarbans has exposed this world heritage site to toxic chemicals, death of threatened species like rare dolphins, turtles, hilsa, etc, and also posing threat to coral reefs. Over use of ground water has increased arsenic toxicity very badly in many areas of West Bengal, because of lack of alternative source for coping demands. The concerns for provision of safe portable water is a basic essential need facing expensive maintenance. Hence awareness to mass about present status of water scarcity, conservation of water, prevention of overuse and misuse of water are our prime concern.