Book highlights water consumption pattern in city

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 16

“There is a need to take immediate steps for saving water,” says city-based Dr Jasdeep Kaur. She works as an assistant professor in economics at Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd.

Dr Jasdeep has come up with a book titled “Domestic Water Consumption Pattern in Urban Areas”, which is based on field research on water consumption.

“Although the authorities have started using terms like very deep and extremely deep in addition to shallow and deep for the depths from which water is drawn for tubewells, the parallel action and drive for saving water has not been undertaken,” said Dr Jasdeep.

“There is an immediate need to save water as large amount of it is just getting wasted. Water released by the Municipal Corporation does not reach consumers. One of the reasons for it is illegal connections,” she added.

“Strict action needs to be taken to stop illegal drawing of water,” she said.

Dr Jasdeep also pointed out that during her study and research for the book she found that like other social evils, the education level of the person did not make much impact on saving water.

“More educated persons are wasting more water. That means sensitisation for saving water is missing from the education system. It is time youths are made aware of saving water and environment,” she added.

“Metered connection is also a cause of the rampant and indiscriminate wastage of water. It is time to increase linear charges for usage of water to check wastage,” she said. “Households, which are 125 sq yards and below are not charged, but those who are well off must pay for the usage of water above a certain limit in order to cut its wastage,” she added.

“Use of submerisible pumps as well as motors for drawing excess water, which is illegal, must be stopped,” she said.

“A Drinking Water Regulatory Commission must be set up to address all issues related to water, including theft,” she added.

“It is time to create awareness for saving water and take steps for saving it on a war footing,” said Dr Jasdeep.