Fresh water to reduce by half in next 20 years: TERI Chief

Bangalore, Nov 20 (UNI) Rapid urbanisation and environmental degradation may cause a drop in the world's fresh water availability by a half the next 20 years, TERI Chairman A Ramachandran said here today.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Emergy Technologies for 21st Century Buildings and Transportation', organised by Maini Group and Loughborough University of UK here, he said there was a construction explosion in China where two billion square metres of structures were coming up.

Construction sector was the main culprit for carbon emissions and the resultant green house effect that is threatening the world environment, he added.

Stressing on launching the clean energy technology initiative in a big way, he said research and development on renewable energy was not enough and more important was its demonstration and deployment.

"Investment in environment friendly technology in building construction and transport will pay back handsomely, if not it will lead to disastrous consequences in urban areas," he said.

He regretted that hybrid technology in transport had been late to arrive in developing countries though it was introduced 20 years ago in Europe.

"New initiatives like Rs one lakh car can spell danger. Though mobility of goods and services is important the best way to reduce congestion in the cities is metro rail system. Mass transport system should be given highest priority," he said.

Mr Ramachandran said lack of unified governance due to frequent changes of governments and lack of coordination between the government departments was affecting implementation of ecologically friendly measures, he added.

UNI