Clean drinking water, a major issue in developing countries - Prof. Munasinghe

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Shortage of fresh drinking water will be a major issue in the world specially in developing countries. Contamination of underground water, mismanagement and wasting have worsened the situation. The Maldives spends a large amount of money to supply pure drinking water to the people.

A boy quenches his thirst by drinking contaminated water in Africa.

Climate change is one of the main problems in poor countries, because it affects their livelihood and the economy, Chairman of the Munasinghe Institute of Development (MIND), Prof. Mohan Munasinghe said.

He said that water resources were of paramount importance to the economy and for livelihood. It plays a pivotal role in eliminating poverty. Malnutrition and health problems are major issues threatening underprivileged countries, he said. If sustainable development is to be achieved, these problems should be addressed, he said.

The second international conference on community and water services was held from August 16 to 18 in Anuradhapura under the theme "Water Cooperation for Community Development". Eight countries including India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Bhutan participated.

Prof. Munasinghe said that financial and economic crises were a common issue in the world. Inadequate resources including drinking water which results malnutrition have pulled the people in developing countries down the precipice. The negative impact of climate change is the prime reason for all of these issues.

Unfortunately, these problems he said were not addressed in an integrated manner and that if it was so all these issues could be solved, Prof. Munasinghe said.

Water bases and spring-lets dry up rapidly. For developed countries drinking water was no issue at all. The availability of fresh water is declining on a per capita basis, he said. At a time when the population of the world is rapidly increasing, the need for drinking water is also increasing in the same manner, he said.

Developing countries he said use a large quantity of water for agriculture, while less water is used for the industrial sector. As a result of inadequate water food production has declined by considerable levels in developing countries.

Around one billion people have no access to safe drinking water. Most of them suffer from illness and malnutrition. Lack of sanitation facilities and lack of safe drinking water have claimed many lives every year, he said.

Diarrhoea kills nearly 1.4 million children every year. Unfortunately in many countries a large quantity of water is wasted due to mismanagement, Prof Munasinghe said.

A section of the people at the conference

Economic Development Minister ,Basil Rajapaksa said that the Government has taken all possible efforts to preserve and protect water resources for the sake of present and future generation.

He said that Sri Lanka has a long history regarding irrigation. The irrigation system is interwoven with the life of the people. Kings who ruled this country built tanks and dug canals to facilitate the agriculture sector.

According to the tradition of Sri Lanka, a pot filled with water is considered a symbol of luck or success. Traditionally we have a close connection with water", the Minister said.

"The Anuradhapura era was the golden era in irrigation and agriculture. The Polonnaruwa and Ruhunu Magam kingdoms were also famous for well-developed irrigation system of this country. We have enough water resources for agriculture and industrial sector development", Minister Rajapaksa said.

"Tank and temple were the symbols of the village. Due to a well- structured irrigation system, Sri Lanka was rich in agriculture and was known as the granary of the East." the Minister said.

The use of diverse chemicals has polluted underground water. irresponsible human activities have destroyed the lush environment. The advancement of modern technology and emergence of various industries have caused a negative impact on the environment, the Minister said.

"The cooperation of the people was crucial to solve this issue. This job can't be carried out by a single group or community. All must join hands and then the target can be achieved. Water cooperation is not a a new issue for Sri Lanka. History has evidence of it", Minister Rajapaksa said.

Two drinking water supply projects will be implemented in Anuradhapura North and South with the assistance from the Japanese and Chinese Governments. The project will be implemented soon. After the completion of these projects the community based drinking water projects will also be linked with these projects, the Minister said.

Water and Power Minister of Pakistan, Chaudry Abid Sher Ali, said that Pakistan was also a country which vulnerable to natural catastrophes and experienced several flooding incidents and cyclones.

He said that the nearly 95 percent of the country's electricity need was fulfilled by hydro power.

Pakistan has the largest irrigation system with a retention area over 142 million acre feet. The Pakistan Government has taken steps to rejuvanate the irrigation system and to construct new reservoirs to facilitate the agriculture sector.

While speaking on the the theme "Effect of climate change on Water resources Maldives" Minister of Environment of the Maldives, Dr. (Ms.) Mariyam Shakeela said that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and is a global issue which should be addressed immediately.

Minister Shakeela said that the Maldives consists of 1,190 geographically vulnerable islands.

Maldives is situated in the lowest line and most vulnerable island state for climate change in the world. The country also experience shortage of resources, the Maldivian Minister said.

Maldives is almost completely depend on our biodiversity. Fisheries, tourism and exports are the main income sources of the country.

"Maldives experienced huge loses, property damages and destruction of infrastructure facilities contaminating the drinking water structure and underground water as well during the tsunami. Recent floods also played havoc in the economy of the country. The country faced severe shortage of drinking water. Shortage of drinking water is one of the main problems in Maldives which should be addressed immediately.

The donor countries provided 40 water purifying plants to Maldives and currently 50 percent out of them is function in the islands which suffer from the contamination of drinking water, Minister Shakeela said.

"Power generation is costly and 30 percent of GDP is spent to import fossil fuel. To bear such a huge cost continuously is not a possible task and the country is embarked on aggressive renewable energy program which we continue through, Ms. Shakeela said.

"Rain water is the main source of drinking water. Contamination of rain water has severely affected the people and their health condition. Increased salinity in the low line has contaminated the drinking water links. Low line septic tanks are polluted and the people in small islands experience the shortage of drinking water. Due to financial constraints a large number of people who use contaminated water have have been affected in these islands",she said.

"The Government has made the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities compulsory under its new constitution.

The demand for fresh drinking water and sanitation facilities are increasing drastically with the increase of population", Ms. Shakeela said.

With the increasing population and urbanization the demand for water is increasing rapidly while polluting the fresh water resources furthermore. Salt water infusion has affected the agriculture in large number of islands.

The need for purified or safe drinking water would increase drastically during the drought and flood seasons, she said..

Transporting purified water to islands has become a challenge over the years. More islands suffer from the scarcity of drinking water. Over 50 percent of islands reports of shortage of water every year, she said.