India's Water Crisis

by Laura Van Vliet

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/693928

A recent article appearing in the Toronto Star discusses the current water shortages being experienced in India. As one of the fastest growing countries on the planet, in multiple regards, Rick Westhead in his article “India: Dying of Thirst” argues the cause of the present water situation.

Primarily, Westhead argues that “pollution and an exploding population are drying the subcontinent as never before.” The arguments Westhead make to support this statement present strong evidence, but the lack of certain key connections throughout the article and insufficient discussion of some important issues provide for an overall case which is less substantial than desired.

There are two principal issues Westhead focuses on: water shortages and water pollution in India. Pollution is in some ways a separate issue from water shortages, water may be available but not usable. However, in some instances in the article, such as the quote mentioned above, Westhead refers to India as “drying” or “water-starved”. In these examples, the author seems to claim that there is a general lack of water in India, while a more reasonable claim is that water pollution renders much of the water unsuitable for human use (in agriculture or other activities). As is discussed elsewhere in the article, India is full of “dead” rivers like the Ganges and Yamuna, and polluted watercourses which have tainted surrounding farmland. Thus, the clarification in language used makes the authors argument more viable. A complete drought in a country such as India, known for its monsoons and famous healing rivers, seems implausible.

Water shortages is the second main argument used by Westhead. Westhead focuses on the increased demand for water because of growing population and industry – as India grows it requires more water to complete human activities and thus water is removed from natural sources. Indeed, the article refers to satellite imagery proving the water table is dropping. In agriculture in particular, new strains of rice and wheat burden the water system, though they increase productivity. However, Westhead fails to explain the causal relationship for overall drops in the water table and the increased human need for water. Westhead similarly uses failing city infrastructure as a cause of dropping water table levels, without properly explaining their significance. The explanation surrounding infrastructure, while explaining the lack of water resources available to the human population in large cities, does not explain the decreasing water table levels or pollution of resources. Water cannot simply disappear, and Westhead does not explain how the usage of this water can alter the water cycle. To create a more convincing argument, Westhead would be wise to make the connections between water table levels and the overuse of water.

Climate change and global warming are important factors related to water problems around the globe. Changes in weather patterns are reflected by suffering ecosystems and peoples. However, Westhead fails to properly attribute blame to these issues in his work. Both climate change and global warming are mentioned as contributing to the problem, but they are expressed as minor factors. The article reads: “and Climate change – combined with a severe drought this year – have created critical water shortages...” further on in the article it states “when you factor in global warming, India’s ...” Through these statements, one can see that Westhead seems to pass off climate change and global warming as insignificant causes of these problems. However, it would be more fitting to the overwhelming evidence of climate change to give more weight to these issues in the article; climate change and global warming are a major cause of these problems and not so much an insignificant addition. The drought previously mentioned in relation in the quotation is compounded by and perhaps the result of climate changes, and is not a separate issue. Similarly, global warming is a likely cause of decreasing water table levels – not an addition to an existent problem. Failing to recognize the real effects of climate change diminishes the strength of Westhead’s arguments.

In conclusion, Rick Westhead supports his claims of water shortages in India convincingly. Compelling evidence is used to suggest that water levels have been depleted and remaining water supplies are often polluted so much so that they leave surrounding ecosystems virtually useless for agriculture. However, in my opinion, some key relationships and explanations in his arguments are underdeveloped. If these were to be expanded, the argument Westhead makes in “India: Dying of Thirst” would more clear and convincing.


References:

Westhead, Rick. (2009) India: Dying of Thirst. The Star, 12 September 2009. http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/693928. Accessed 29 September 2009.