GLOBAL conflagarations of the next century might very well be over water, says
a World Bank report presented at the
20th session of the International
Seminar on Planetary Emergencies held
recently in Erice, Italy. The report warns
that overconsumption
of water in the developed nations and its
growing scarcity in the
Third World will lead to
military conflicts if
politicians don't act soon.
According to the
report, at least 40 per
cent of the world's population lives in housing that has neither
potable water nor plumbing. Experts
point to the Jordan river in Middle East,
the Nile in Africa and the Ganges whoW
waters are shared by India and Bangladesh as areas of potential conflicts between countries relying on the same water source.
Agriculture accounts for 60 per cent
of the world's annual water consumption. Burgeoning populations and lack of
measures to replenish
the used groundwater
has compougded the
problem. With reports
of water consumption
doubling every 21 years,
the Bank's predictions
have acquired 'a rhuch
more menacing aspect.
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