Water scarcity
warning raises alarm
We have entered the month of May with a quiet but serious warning sign of shrinking water levels in the reservoirs. With key dams like the Selaulim dam dipping below half capacity, the state faces a familiar pre-monsoon anxiety of whether taps will keep running until the rains arrive. Rapid urbanization, a surge in high-end housing projects is putting unprecedented pressure on Goa’s limited freshwater resources. Goa’s water problem is not just about low rainfall in a given year. It is about how water is used, stored, and often wasted. The expansion of gated communities and luxury villas, many with private pools and landscaped gardens, has significantly increased per-household consumption. One of the most immediate and effective solutions is mandatory rainwater harvesting. Every new housing project especially large villas and apartment complexes should be required to install systems that capture and store monsoon rain. Authorities should reassess approvals for water-intensive developments, especially in areas already facing stress. Goa receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon, yet much of it runs off into rivers and eventually the sea. Capturing even a fraction of this water could significantly ease summer shortages. Goa’s landscape is dotted with wells, ponds, and springs that once served as reliable water sources. Many of these have been neglected or polluted. Restoration of these traditional systems can reduce dependence on government water supply.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Green power impact
On April 25, India met the peak power demand of 256 gigawatts (GW). This was the highest ever recorded on a single day during the ongoing scorching summer. Of the 256 GW, solar energy contributed 81 GW at 12.30 pm and 57 GW at 3.38 pm. India is in the top three countries to utilise solar energy. But at what cost? Under the pretext of ‘development’ large infrastructural projects are undertaken resulting in enhanced heat dissipation and temperature. Because of the rise in temperature, use of air-conditioners and air-coolers increases which deteriorates the environment. Buildings may use green technology but these pale in comparison to the natural cooling induced by trees and plants. The ambient temperature would be lower below trees than in areas devoid of greenery. Thousands of age-old trees are sacrificed and as compensation plants are grown, at faraway places from the site from where the trees were cut. The plants would take years to become trees and provide shade and oxygen. By then India may become the number one country to tap and use solar energy but it would be too late to reverse the effects of climate change, reduced monsoon, and onset of drought and famine. A prudent mix of development and a consideration for the environment and people is needed. If necessary, developments could be reduced or foregone instead of wantonly destroying nature.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Justice for poor
Eradicating poverty through the enforcement of law is a crucial component of a broader, multi-faceted approach to development. In this context, “enforcing the law” does not mean penalising the poor, but rather enabling legal empowerment. This includes upholding rights, ensuring access to justice, safeguarding livelihoods, and enforcing regulations that protect vulnerable sections of society in India. Legal enforcement alone is not sufficient; it must be complemented by economic growth, job creation, and effective social protection programmes. Vested interests and structural barriers often delay or dilute the implementation of pro-poor legislation. In essence, legal enforcement for poverty eradication is about empowering the poor, not punishing them. It involves using the legal system to protect the rights of the vulnerable and ensuring they have equal opportunities for development.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Reducing food wastage
Food wastage in India is a significant concern, with an estimated 68.7 to 78.2 million tonnes of food wasted annually, according to Conscious Charcha and WRI India. This wastage occurs across the entire supply chain, from production to consumption, and has serious economic, environmental, and social consequences. Interestingly, the problem is less evident in dabbas and street vendors, and is more prevalent in star hotels across the country. The issue merits discussion with hotel and restaurant associations, which have agreed to voluntarily take up the matter and initiate steps to reduce food wastage. Avoiding the disposal of edible food not only helps preserve the environment but also saves money. If one were to reflect on their last restaurant visit and compare it with national statistics on food wastage, it may encourage greater mindfulness and reduce unnecessary waste. However, awareness of the issue, and its links to malnutrition, poverty and food insecurity, remains limited. As a result, food wastage continues to contribute significantly to broader socio-economic challenges.
Arati Abhishek, Bengaluru
At the same time, it causes substantial financial losses to industries and society at large. When we scrape plates after a large meal, too full to finish what remains, we rarely pause to consider the significance of our actions. It has become routine: leftover food is simply discarded as waste. Unfortunately, such habits make it difficult to comprehend the true scale of global food wastage and its wider implications.
