SC judge warns of social unrest over water shortage

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Water shortage could cause great
suffering and social unrest, the Supreme Court of India has
said and directed the Centre to immediately constitute a
high-powered committee of scientists to evolve ways to
overcome any crisis.

"In my opinion the Central Government should constitute
such a body of scientists immediately and give them all the
help failing which the hardships of the people of India will
further increase causing great suffering and social unrest
everywhere," Justice Katju observed.

Writing his separate views in a judgement directing the
Centre to constitute a Special Water Tribunal to solve an
inter-state water dispute between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh,
Justice Markandeya Katju said the high-powered committee
should take up the job immediately on a "war footing".

"This body of scientists should be given all financial,
technical and administrative help by the Central and state
governments for this purpose," he said.

However, Justice Altamas Kabir who headed the bench, did
not make any observations on the water crisis, and restricted
himself to giving directions to the Centre to constitute the
water disputes tribunal within six months.

The dispute in the present case involved the construction
of the Neradi irrigation project.

Vamsadhara at Katragada in Andhra Pradesh which, it is
claimed, would adversely affect the supply of water from the
river to Orissa and adversely affect the livelihood of
thousands of people in that State.

The apex court also asked Andhra Pradesh to maintain
"status quo" on the construction of the dam until the tribunal
gave its verdict.

"They (scientists) should be requested by the Central and
State Governments to do their patriotic duty to the nation in
this connection, and by scientific research to find out the
ways of solving the water shortage problem in the country,"
Justice Katju said in his judgement.

According to Justice Katju the Centre should seek the
help and advice of foreign scientific experts and Indian
scientists settled abroad who specialised in the field.

"Rivers are dying or declining, and aquifers are getting
over-pumped. Industries, hotels, etc are pumping out
roundwater at an alarming rate, causing sharp decline in the
groundwater levels," he said.

"Farmers are having a hard time finding ground water for
their crops. Hence, the real solution of the water shortage
problem can only lie in utilising the water reserves in the
sea and in the snow mountains by scientific methods. Rain
water must also be scientifically managed," he observed.

According to Justice Katju as regards sea water the
basic challenge is how to convert saline water into fresh
water through an inexpensive method.

"The methods tried till now have been distillation and
reverse osmosis, but these are expensive methods. We have to
find inexpensive methods for this, by scientific research.

Similarly, the immense water reserves in the Himalayas
in the form of ice can be utilised for the people of the north
and central Indian states," Justice Katju added. PTI