World Water Day 2011

By Dr Arvind Kumar

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The theme for World Water Day 2011 is Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, which aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. This is the first time in human history that most of the world’s population lives in cities: 3.3 billion people …and the urban landscape continues to grow. 38% of the growth is represented by expanding slums, while the city populations are increasing faster than city infrastructure can adapt. In India, the World Water Day is being observed today by the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, with the theme of water use efficiency in urban areas.