“To understand the biosphere, Dr. Albertson co‑organized RJS’s 516th program.

“To understand the biosphere, Dr. Albertson co‑organized RJS’s 516th program.

India’s borrowed future: experts warn of a 4% water crisis and biosphere collapse—Dr. G.V. Subramanyam.

 Modern society is stripping the biosphere’s natural cover, leaving Earth ‘naked’—R.K. Vishnoi.” 

India’s ‘Borrowed’ Future: Experts Warn of 4% Water Crisis and Biosphere Collapse**

**NEW DELHI** – In a landmark national seminar organized by Ram Janaki Sansthan (RJS) Positive Media, a panel of eminent scientists, government advisors, and environmentalists delivered a sobering assessment of India’s ecological trajectory. The program, titled "Understanding the Biosphere," revealed a stark mathematical crisis: India currently supports nearly 18% of the global population with only 4% of the world’s fresh water resources. Experts warned that without a radical shift from a lifestyle of "conflict with nature" to one of "harmony," the country faces an imminent collapse of its life-support systems.

The session, moderated by RJS National Convenor Uday Kumar Manna, served as the launchpad for 2024 as a "Sankalp Varsh" (Year of Resolution). Manna opened the proceedings by asserting that biodiversity is the very foundation of human existence, calling for the mobilization of a "Positive Army" of citizens to safeguard the environment during India’s "Amrit Kaal"—the run-up to the centenary of its independence.

**The Mathematics of Ecological Scarcity**

Dr. Dinesh Albertson, a field biologist and scientist at the DDA’s Aravali Biodiversity Park, provided a data-driven wake-up call regarding the pressure on India’s resources. He noted that the nation now manages a staggering 310 million vehicles and releases millions of liters of industrial effluent into its water systems daily. In Delhi alone, the scale of industrial discharge has reached critical levels, further straining an already fragile water cycle.

Dr. Albertson introduced the scientific concept of "asymmetric necessity" to highlight human vulnerability. "We must realize that most plants, microorganisms, and fungi would not only survive but thrive if humans disappeared today," Dr. Albertson stated. "However, the human species cannot survive without these microbes. Biodiversity loss is the direct precursor to widespread disease and total ecological collapse." He emphasized that while humans cannot "create" a biosphere, they have the urgent power to restore degraded lands into forest-like ecosystems through sustainable startups and skilled intervention.

**Policy Framework and the Global Network**

Chief Guest Dr. G.V. Subrahmanyam, former Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), placed India’s conservation efforts within a global framework. He detailed UNESCO’s "Man and Biosphere" (MAB) program, which began in 1971 to study the relationship between humans and their environment. India’s formal participation began in 1986 with the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; today, the country maintains 18 such reserves covering 90,000 square kilometers.

Dr. Subrahmanyam explained the rigorous three-tier zoning system used to manage these areas: the "Core" zone, which is strictly protected for research with no human activity allowed; the "Buffer" zone, used for education and limited research; and the "Transition" zone, where sustainable development and community cooperation occur. He highlighted the "Cold Desert" in Himachal Pradesh, situated at 4,500 meters, as a critical high-altitude reserve.

Despite these structural protections, Dr. Subrahmanyam warned that government policy is only as effective as public participation. "We have not inherited this Earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children," he remarked, echoing a central theme of the seminar. He argued that the current crisis is driven by the "greed of the rich and the careless application of technology," calling for a return to the traditional Indian ethos of nature worship.

**The "Water Bank" and Cultural Stewardship**

Environmentalist RK Bishnoi, Head of Environment at Vidya Bharti, bridged the gap between modern science and ancient wisdom through the concept of the "Panchmahabhoot" (the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space). Drawing from the legacy of the Bishnoi community—famous for sacrificing lives to protect trees from royal axes—he criticized the modern habit of leaving the Earth "naked" by stripping away native vegetation.

Bishnoi introduced the metaphor of "Glaciers as Engineers," explaining that God designed these ice masses as a "water bank" to provide steady flow when rain fails. He warned that over-extraction of groundwater, which has seen levels drop by 600 feet in parts of Rajasthan, represents a dangerous depletion of a survival reserve intended for emergencies.

"We were sent to Earth as 'Eco-club In-charges,'" Bishnoi said. "Instead, we have become its destroyers." Drawing from observations in the Netherlands and California, he advocated for "mulching"—covering soil with organic matter to prevent dust and absorb carbon—and the creation of "Insect Hotels" to protect vital pollinators, which he noted are now so scarce in some regions that farmers must pollinate crops by hand.

**The "Honesty Gap" and Public Responsibility**

The interactive portion of the seminar addressed the practical failures of environmental regulation. Participant Sarita Kapoor raised a poignant concern regarding "grassroots honesty," describing how tourism staff in protected hill stations often coach visitors on how to hide plastic bottles to bypass checkpoints.

Dr. Albertson responded that the government "cannot be everywhere," and that the "thin envelope" of the biosphere depends entirely on individual integrity. This sentiment was supported by other regional voices, including Dayaram Saroliya from Madhya Pradesh, who used the poetry of Rahim—"Bin Paani Sab Soon" (Without water, all is lost)—to argue that water conservation is a spiritual necessity. Dr. Kavita Parihar from Nagpur further linked the seasonal festival of Makar Sankranti to biological health, urging the public to view nature’s transitions as a guide for sustainable living.

**A Resolution for Action**

As the seminar concluded, Uday Kumar Manna outlined the RJS roadmap for 2024. He announced that the contributions from the session would be documented in a permanent historical record and a monthly newsletter. Key upcoming milestones include the "Parakram Diwas" celebrations on January 23 and Republic Day on January 26, where the organization will continue to build its "Positive Army."

The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Shakuntala Devi, a co-organizer from Manipur, who emphasized the philosophy of "Jiyo aur Jeene Do" (Live and Let Live). She urged for greater "media literacy," encouraging citizens to prioritize positive, solution-oriented news over environmental doomerism.

The seminar ended with a universal prayer for *Vanaspati Shanti*—peace to the flora and fauna. The final takeaway for the attendees was clear: the 4% of fresh water India possesses must be guarded with the same vigilance as a national border, as the health of the biosphere is the only true measure of the nation’s wealth.