I have witnessed firsthand the water crisis plaguing our cities each summer. Cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai not only suffer from severe water shortages but also exacerbate the problem by purchasing water from nearby villages, leaving rural residents without their own crucial supply. Ironically, during the monsoon season, these same urban areas struggle with flood management, diverting valuable resources to mitigate the damage caused by excessive rainwater that ultimately drains into the sea.

This alarming cycle is not just a result of poor water management; it is a result of unchecked borewell drilling, leading to uncontrolled groundwater extraction. Despite receiving adequate rainfall annually, India fails to retain and utilize this precious resource efficiently. Alarmingly, 96% of this rainwater is lost, finding its way into the ocean rather than replenishing the parched earth or existing borewells. This mismanagement of natural resources further depletes water tables and worsens the plight of millions living in urban and rural landscapes alike.

The time is ripe for sustainable intervention by halting further drilling of borewells across the country. Instead, we must focus our combined efforts on harvesting the rain that blesses our land year after year. By tapping into this underestimated source, we can channel rainwater into existing wet and dry borewells, ensuring a recharge of groundwater reserves and a sustainable water supply for the future.

Join me in urging the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Jal Jeevan Mission to take decisive action: ban the drilling of new borewells and prioritize the harvesting and redirection of rainwater. Together, we can change our current trajectory, secure a sustainable future for our cities and villages, and honor the natural water cycles that sustain us.

Please sign this petition to advocate for a more sustainable and water-secure India.