Water Bodies as public spaces

Much has been written about the Water Crisis that looms on our heads in the present century, and I do not think I need to elaborate on it. Water shortage has hit us, and it is for real. That's it. Nothing can be more direct than that.

We Indians have been historically connected to our water bodies. Cities of our civilization have flourished on river fronts, with trade, agriculture and economy thriving due to water. Ports like Bombay, Surat and Madras have held immense significance in our history. With an agricultural economy with mostly rain-fed agriculture practiced, water forms an integral part of our past, present and hopefully our future as well.

Lakes and ponds in cities like Kolkata and Udaipur were used for filling water and bathing, supported local fishermen, and served to regenerate and recharge local ecosystems. Rivers acted as highways, as modes of transport connecting cities along their banks. Mumbai thrived due to its sea shore. In short, citizens connected with their water bodies. And hence they protected them.

But in time, we have disconnected from these water bodies in our cities. Mumbaikars have no time for their Marine Drive and Juhu beach. Lakes and ponds have either dried up, turned to nallahs or have been filled up to construct buildings. People don't conduct their routines on the banks of rivers, riverways are no longer used as means of transport and hence don't consider these water bodies as a part of their lives. We are, in short, disconnected from our water bodies. And hence we don't think twice before dumping our garbage in canals, ponds or lakes, or polluting rivers and seas with our septic waste. We encroach without guilt, and hence we destroy our water systems.

I feel the way forward is to reconnect cities and its citizens to its water bodies. To use the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, sea shores, as public spaces. Not in what is now perceived as subaltern, like washing clothes or bathing in ponds and lakes, but as spaces for public events and community gatherings. In this manner, unwanted activities could be avoided on beaches after dark, and lakes and ponds could be saved from being filled up for new constructions.

I base my argument on the paradigm that as people become "distanced" from the water body, no matter how less the physical distance may be, they cease to protect it.

I believe we need to address this "distance" in order to conserve our water bodies.