New Delhi: Water is considered to be one of the quintessential parts of everyone’s life. Water holds an enormous and complex value in our households, food, culture, health, education, economics, and natural environment. However, owing to pollution and injudicious consumption, billions of people are deprived of water for their survival.

Thus to mark the importance of water in our lives, World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 every year. The day raises awareness that about more than 2 billion people are living without access to safe water. According to the United Nations, “It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.”

Theme

UN-Water sets a special theme every year for World Water Day. This year’s theme is Groundwater, making the invisible visible.

“Underground is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives. Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater. As climate change gets worse, groundwater will become more and more critical. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource. Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind,” mentioned the worldwaterday.org, stressing the importance of groundwater.

The day asks its people to protect underground water from overexploitation – to extract more water than is recharged by rain and snow and the pollution caused to it. The United Nations stated that to survive and adapt to climate change and meet the needs of a growing population, exploring, protecting, and sustainably using groundwater should be the main focus.

History

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place in 1992 here the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to celebrate World Water Day on March 22 every year, starting in 1993.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took to Twitter and asked everyone to “save every drop of water.”

अद्भिः सर्वाणि भूतानि जीवन्ति प्रभवन्ति च।।

On World Water Day, let’s reaffirm our pledge to save every drop of water. Our nation is undertaking numerous measures like Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure water conservation and access to clean drinking water for our citizens. pic.twitter.com/HWy0gjK5fV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2022