Changing rain patterns, unpredictable weather changes, and a rise in temperature. The effects of climate change have hit regions all across the world. These climatic anomalies that nature has unleashed upon the world can no longer be ignored. It is obvious that ignoring the signs any longer without acting on conservation of resources or sustainable development will lead to inevitable doom. 

One resource that needs immediate attention is water. There is a huge concern about the future of water resources, considering the accelerating pace of melting glaciers, rising rivers, constant encroachments, shrinking catchment areas, inflow of waste & pollutant, depleting ground water tables and increase in land abuse via human settlements. 

These problems also affect our own City of Bengaluru where almost all the water bodies share a certain set of problems. However, the authorities have been too scattered in their approach to effect any lasting results. 

Conservation and revival projects must be amped up in order to control the looming water crisis ahead of us. The lakes and other water bodies in Urban India need more optimised utilisation to ensure fully effective use of available resources. 

Today's cities depend on water resources far outside city limits to meet their needs. This, in turn, makes the water distribution system highly expensive and unsustainable. Ensuring that cities are self-reliant for their water needs is a great reason to invest our time and efforts into reviving and conserving local water bodies. 

Separating sewage lines from storm water drains, treating waste/sewage water for re-use, ensuring rain water reaches the lakes/water bodies via a network of storm water drains or canals, developing a vision for the lakes, creating a stakeholder community for the lakes/water bodies are some of the first important steps to be taken for the conservation and revival of lakes and other water bodies in the City.

There is a lot to learn from our history when it comes to water conservation. Taking a fresh look at the concepts of open wells, kalyanis and re-creation of watershed based on the water flow and contours can improve our water conservation process.

Strict measures must be taken keeping long-term implications in mind and we must make swift strides towards securing India's water bodies and providing clean water and sanitation to the people. Water security can be a reality for all if the government takes up initiatives that encourage citizens to actively play their parts in sustainable usage of water.

The views expressed are personal