Across India, many major cities are running out of water supplies and are close to facing drought. One of these cities is Chennai. It is located on the coast of Eastern India and has a population of about seven million people. The city has four main reservoirs which have almost run dry. India has had a nationwide heatwave, causing citizens to fight over the water left. It is not unusual, however, that there has been fatal heatwaves draining all the water sources in small cities. Unfortunately, Chennai is the first large city to face a shortage as severe as this. To blame is a combination of the heatwave, climate change and poor preparation for the hot weather.
Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images
“The shortage has forced some schools to shut, companies to ask employees to work from home, and hotels to ration water for guests” (Reuters, 2019)
The challenges are getting new and usable water to Chennai and making it last. So, what’s the solution?
On Thursday, July 11th, the Indian authorities filled trains with water to send to Chennai. However, people who live on the outskirts of the city are trying to block the railroads to the inner city because they are scared that the water supplies will be prioritized for the “rich”, such as luxury hotels and big businesses.
I agree that at this time, sending trains with river water to the areas with dry reservoirs, is the most efficient method of preventing a complete drought. Nevertheless, it will not remain capable of providing water to everyone who is in need in the long term. As stated earlier, the businesses and hotels are prioritized, leaving other citizens with absolutely nothing. If this continues, the Indian authorities are going to have to provide a better solution which reaches everyone.
References:
India’s water crisis, in photos. (2019, June 22). Retrieved July 14, 2019, from
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/20/india/gallery/
india-water-crisis-chennai-drought/index.html
Ravikumar, P. (2019, July 11). Water train set to relieve drought-hit Indian
city. Retrieved July 14, 2019, from https://www.reuters.com/article/
us-india-water-chennai/
water-train-set-to-relieve-drought-hit-indian-city-idUSKCN1U62A9
Amalie's Blog 