The news about shrinking and melting Himalayan glaciers has not come in limelight first time. We all know that our river could dry up if necessary actions are not taken to save them. According to latest report of Earth Policy Institute, the Chinese and Indian rivers like the Ganga and the Yangtze can transformed into seasonal rivers and probably could dry up fully in summers. What will happen when this supply of freshwater stops? In the country like India and Chine where grain prices are already high and millions of people are bound to satisfy themselves in one meal a day, water shortage could not only affect villages but also the cities that depend on these rivers for water supply.

In the report,the President of the Earth Policy Institute, Lester Brown said,

India’s Gangetic plain faded the prospect of losing the double cropping that allowed it to harvest wheat in winter and rice in summer. Water tables were also dropping rapidly in both India and China and were dangerously low in many places. Both countries have lost momentum in the effort to raise grain production. In both countries stocks are down to minimal levels and both are wrestling with serious food price inflation.

The holy Ganga and Yamuna and so many rivers will slowly become barren if people does not take essential precautions to sustain the water content and continuity of flow through out its natural route. Especially Indian philosophy and Vedic culture advocate worshiping all natural energy resources including rivers like Ganga, Yamuna. It would not be wrong if I say, anti-environmental life styles of the people have resulted in the feared threat of drying up rivers and draught conditions.
If the report is unbiased then it is high time for Indian and Chinese leaders have to understand the ground realities related to usage of these river, nationalize the rivers, construct more lakes and reservoirs and allocate the water resources, improve agriculture and promote research in production and food preservation technologies.
Apart form it, the people who are very much depended on these rivers need to make extra efforts to keep it clean and safe. Don’t expect much from our leaders, let’s do something that can set example for the whole world!

Via