Resource Illiteracy : A Curse on Inland Waters

Billions of people worldwide are grappling with the harsh reality of inadequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Shockingly, 1.25 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water and 3.2 billion have no access to safely managed sanitation. Rapid industrial development and urbanization have taken a heavy toll on our water resources, with toxic waste being discharged into water bodies without treatment, making much of our freshwater unsafe for drinking and sometimes even for agriculture.Over the last century, nearly half of the planet’s wetlands have vanished due to industrial infrastructure, roads, and urban expansion, leading to the rapid depletion of both surface and groundwater resources. Some rivers no longer reach the sea, and nearly 20% of the world’s 10,000 freshwater fish species are now endangered or facing extinction. In India, the situation is particularly dire, with wetlands disappearing at an alarming rate.Children and families in poor and rural communities are the most vulnerable, at risk of being left behind in this growing crisis. The world must act urgently to protect our water sources, ensuring a sustainable future for all.