Bengaluru: Although water covers 71 per cent of the earth, degradation of soil quality, irregular rainfall and the melting of glaciers could reduce the availability of water by 37 per cent by 2050, warned Dr AS Kiran Kumar, chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) here on Thursday.
The scientist, who was dwelling on the effects of climate change on water, however, assured that the problem could be tackled with geospatial techniques. Addressing the 6th international conference on climate change and sustainable water resources management, he said India with its state-of-the-art satellite systems was providing satellite data to address the looming crisis of water resources.
Observing that climate change leading to high temperatures and larger variability in rainfall, were global concerns, Mr Kumar said Isro had begun mapping of wetlands, snow, glaciers, groundwater prospects, river systems, flood plains and identifying groundwater recharge locations to fight its effects.
Commenting on the precarious water situation in Karnataka where one had to go as deep as a 1000 feet to find water, Dr. Y.V.N. Krishna Murthy, director, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, said the focus of the government was now on starting a second green revolution in the eastern part of the country.
Addressing the concerns of environmentalists on the linking of rivers, he agreed that precautions needed to be taken, but assured that it could be beneficial in the long run.
