Question.
The depletion of water resources may lead to social conflicts and disputes. Elaborate on it with suitable examples.
(NCERT class 12 geography, India People and Economy, Chapter -6 Water resources)
Answer.
Due to the increasing population, the demand for water resources for irrigation, industrial use, domestic use, etc. is increasing, due to which the per capita availability of water is decreasing day by day. Due to stagnant water supply and increasing demand for water, water resources in India are depleting very fast whether it is groundwater or surface water, giving rise to social conflicts and disputes.
For example,
- The demand for water is increasing due to intensive cropping in Tamil Nadu and the demand for water is increasing in Karnataka too, especially in Bangalore due to the increasing population, due to which there is a social conflict between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of water of river Cauvery. This conflict is increasing day by day.
- The scarcity of irrigated water is also increasing in Haryana and Punjab is not willing to share more water with Haryana due to consumption of its own water, this may lead to social conflict between Punjab and Haryana.
- There is also a dispute between Chhattisgarh and Odisha over the sharing of Mahanadi river waters.
- Social conflict has also been witnessed between India and Pakistan over the sharing of Indus river water.
- There is a dispute between India and Bangladesh over the Teesta river.
- The scarcity of water in Africa has led to many disputes and wars.
Therefore, from the above example, we can say that the depletion of water resources gives rise to social conflicts and disputes.
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