In India we are fortunate not to have destroyed the natural water systems to the stage of irreversibility. Had this been done, large tracts would already have become deserts, as had happened in the Euphrates and Tigris basins. We have already made huge investments in the 'major' and 'medium' irrigation projects since independence, much of which were not cost-effective, contributed greatly to corruption and created huge non-productive establishments, that are a burden to state governments today. The situation is still manageable.if the existing structures are modified to make them more eco-friendly, and to ensure that the natural water resources, particularly those of ground water and small streams are revived. Our rivers must be allowed to have flows that would take care of all needs besides irrigation, such as those for domestic use, navigation, fisheries, safe religious use, tourism, protection of bio-diversity, including Ganga's bacteriophage and its dolphins, and most importantly of all, for meeting the requirement of ground water recharge. A simple fact must be faced by our water managers and their political masters. Can we accept thirty percent losses of water of the dam-cum-canal system, when this resource is becoming scarcer by the day? And should we not protect the natural river-cum-ground water system that has losses of only five percent? With a crisis of immense proportions looming over us, it is high time that we modified our artificial water systems to make them more in tune with the natural systems.

Let us restore the status of goddess-like motherhood to our rivers; let us ensure that no untreated waste water escapes into them; let us make them bountiful with greater flows; yes, let us offer them flowers and bestow our love upon them, dancing and singing on their banks. And they, our mothers, shall give us back the primeval element in time of need and protect us from disease and debility, to make prosperous and strong. Let us, indeed, sing in praise of the holy rivers of this ancient land.

Let us keep it looking Beautiful!