India's Holiest River 'Ganga' To Become Dry

There will be no Ganga after 25 years: Shekhar Kapur

Mumbai, Sep 30 : Internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur feels that the water crisis will get worse in future and if things continue as they are then after 25 years the Ganga will disappear too.

The filmmaker appealed to the people of India and rest of the world to conserve water which, he said, is a social commodity and a fast depleting natural resource.

"Almost 80 percent of the world is water stressed. We need to understand that we have crossed a danger mark and we need to do something about it. If we don't, then in the coming years we won't be able to use water like we do today," Kapur told reporters Tuesday.

"If we don't start taking steps now, we will be remembered by our future generations as the people who ruined our natural resources. Water is a very important natural resource.

"Things are so bad that even Ganga will become a seasonal river at this rate in the next 25 years and might not even be there later. It's shocking but true."

There is a need for strong remedial measures to save and conserve water or the world as we know it may not survive, he said, sounding the loud alarm bell.

Kapur, 64, has lent his support to We Are Water Foundation set up by bathroom brand Roca for water conservation in India.

"I have always tried to attach myself to awareness programmes for water conservation. My next film ('Paani') is also about water and I'm very happy to support this organisation and this initiative," he said.

Explaining his own involvement, Kapur said he would join any sustainable effort to conserve water and "even if my mere presence makes any difference, I shall gladly join it."

"Water is the responsibility of each and every individual on earth, not just the state. Of course, it is the duty of the state to make adequate arrangements for supplying safe drinking water, but each of us also needs to check our own consumption levels and not waste it," Kapur said.

Kapur urged that it is time for the governments to not only focus on mega-engineering feats like the proposed 'garlanding of rivers' in India, but also strongly encourage and promote water harvesting and watershed management techniques, water conservation especially the ground water tables, and check consumption and deforestation all over the country.

At the event, the documentary "Aral: The Lost Sea" by director Isabel Coixet with participation by Sir Ben Kingsley was also screened.

The foundation will promote awareness and debate amongst the public and organisations on the need to create a new culture of water to permit the fair development and sustainable management of the world's water resources. They will also support various cooperation projects in collaboration with NGOs and other bodies.

Source: IANS