________________
of water. Jainism ordains for limiting the quantity to be used to a minimum possible level, because it has life, which must be protected. The sacred principle of Jainism, “Live and Let Live” is practical, relevant and conducive to qualitative life-style and proper ecological balance. It supports mutualism and compassion for all animate constituents of environment, including all types of one-sensed livingbeings. Wastage of water and deforestation or destruction of forests cause imbalance in underground water level and its natural management. Moreover, every civilization has realized that the agrarian economy/ culture depends on proper supply of water. Timely supply and in adequate quantity were the essence of successful agriculture. For it, man made water bunds, ponds, lakes or dams came up around its every settlement. Population in dry or arid areas is, as such, thinly distributed. Man has to put in a lot of extra efforts to get water for his survival, in such areas. With the growth of technology and explosion in human population during the last two centuries, the requirement of water for house-hold and for agriculture has increased many folds. Supply lines have been developed in form of water pipe-lines, storage tanks, desalination plants and water pimps. Power driven equipments have reduced the quantum of individual effort or work to get the water supply at the required place. The Supply in the houses has become so effortless that most people forgot the importance of this resource. Its continuous supply is taken for granted by the human beings. 2) Awareness: However, the ever expanding human settlements started feeling the limitation of this important resource during the last 50 years or so. But the slow growth in awareness has resulted in water supply falling short of demand. This has lead to serious impact on the human settlement. Each town has lately realized that this supply is not unlimited. It has to conserve water and reduce its wastage for the survival of human race. i) Another factor, which added to woos of the modern civilization, was the unrestricted and negligent use of this low cost water by the industry. Their habits became not only wasteful but it also polluted the water, which was discharged by it. It started contaminating the sources of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org