12/09/2023
Water Wonder
Rains transform the Western Ghats into the most enchanting wonderland of a lush haven studded with cascading waterfalls, misty peaks, and green valleys making it truly the best time to experience it in its most surreal form. What makes this glorious belt even more spectacular is – the onset of monsoon. Monsoons hit the Western Ghats every year between the months of June and September and fill this land with mystic energy. The season beckons adventurers from far and wide to explore the natural wonders of this awe-inspiring region. Being one of the wettest places on Earth, the Western Ghats experience annual rainfall averaging between 2,550 and 3,750 millilitre’s during this time of year. As the rivers, streams, and waterfalls are revitalised by the heavy rains, the scenery turns even more breathtaking.
It is majestic and has earned a distinguished status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serving as a sanctuary to an exceptional variety of flora and fauna that can be exclusively found in this region. Spanning across six Indian states, namely Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat, this region boasts of an impressive collection of approximately 7,300 flowering plant species, 1,800 non-flowering plant species , 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 175 species of amphibians, and 290 freshwater fish species.
Western Ghats, Maharashtra, is where we filmed a large part of our series, ending in Mumbai City, and the Arabian Sea!
India uses or consumes more than 600 billion cubic meters (158 trillion gallons) of water annually. Of that amount, 245 billion cubic meters are drawn from aquifers.On an average one person wastes about 0-45 litres water per day. To understand it better, it is 30% of water requirement per person per day. 125 million litres of water wasted daily.
Already facing the worst water crisis in history, India ranks 120 among 122 countries in the water quality index, with the situation slated to get far worse. Projections state that the demand for water will be twice the available supply by 2030. India, now the world's most populous nation, will be the hardest hit from water scarcity. Despite holding 18% of the world's population, it only has enough water resources for 4% of its people, hence making it the world's most water-stressed country, the World Bank said.
One of the proposed solutions to solve the country's water woes is the Indian rivers interlinking project. Some 80 percent of its area experiences rains of 750 millimetres (30 in) or more a year.
The ocean holds about 97 percent of the Earth's water; the remaining three percent is found in glaciers and ice, below the ground, in rivers and lakes.
Rains transform the Western Ghats into the most enchanting wonderland of a lush haven studded with cascading waterfalls, misty peaks, and green valleys makin...
