Wednesday 20 August 2008

Twists and turns and somersaults


--I wrote this some time ago but it never got posted - due to blocking of blogger from office!
Time: till about 10-15 days ago
Extreme water shortage. Pune city which normally gets 24 hrs water supply suddenly faces the situation where people are forced to store water, conserve it. Power cuts are on the rise affecting business. Households are not spared either – electricity being cut during the morning rush hours as well as evenings as load shedding measures. This affects water supply two folds – no pumps to pull water!
China sends rockets (1104 no less) to deter the rains. India, this being monsoon badly awaits rains. Like it or not, India still is very much dependent on the rains!

Time: Cut to about 4-5 days ago
The reservoirs of the dams are more than half empty. No signs of rains. Whatever water is available would have to be frugally used and has to last for a whole year ahead – till the next rains at least. State government declares the impending drought. All the news papers flash the news that all over the state is drought situation. People dread to think about the effect on the agriculture industry and the crops failing, the imminent inflation!

Time: About 2 days ago
When it rains it pours! Yes. Here the weather takes a turn.
There has been lashing rain all over the state. Almost all the rivers in the state are now flooded. Lots of towns/cities under water. People need to be evacuated for the fear of drowning. The dams which were partially full have now the need to release water. This may lead to more flooding! New measures have to be taken to deal with this crisis situation.
Weather was never predictable. But this level of uncertainty where situations change in a matter of 2 days – is this something that we have drawn on ourselves? Is this also an effect of global warming?