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However, pollution of water is identified as a critical threat. The industry discharges around 500 million tons of waste materials per year in the water sources. Waste water has increased from 7000 mld (78-79) to 16,600 mld in 94-95, in cities having population of 1 lakh and above. However, sewage treatment capacity has not kept pace with it. These wastes must be treated and removed before discharging into the water sources. Some other industrial wastes are creating green house effect on earth. It is not only warming up the earth but is already resulting in increase in ocean levels. These climatic changes will bring about water scarcity for the human population. Presently earth's surface temperature is increasing @ 3.2° F/ century. Scientists have estimated that due to present rate of global warming, the sea level will rise by 50 cm as a result of melting of polar ice. This would be sufficient to submerge many coastal countries. Similarly, the mountain glaciers are contracting at alarming rate, reducing thereby the flow of rivers. At the current rate of glacier retreat in Himalayas, all glaciers in central and western sectors would be lost by 2035! This may cause floods as well as water crisis thereafter. Shrinking glaciers and melting sea ice are sensitive indicators of climate changes like heat waves and intense storms. This impending water scarcity may pause a great threat to world peace. Water has already become a commodity of military importance for middle-east countries. Even in India, water conflicts have already become contentious between different states. In the mad rush for industrialization, the old practices of rain water harvesting through innumerable ponds, johads, pits and rivulets and the practice of their regular desilting have become extinct. On the other hand, water extraction from under ground resources has been increasing by leaps and bounds. This has lead to the falling of water table at a very fast rate. In fact, excessive pumping of natural underground water reservoirs is causing land to sink in various parts of the world. The lack of seriousness and failure to take bold steps to assign
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