ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rapidly increasing urban population is pressurizing the urban resource leading to ruthless, unsustainable consumption, further making the resource scarce in future. One of the important is the freshwater resource. Natural process like climate change, increasing temperature, changing wind pattern and monsoon system makes the situation more vulnerable leading to the occurrence of extreme climatic events, more frequent events of disasters etc. Desertification/Drought is one such phenomenon occurring due to natural or human interventions caused, where a fertile land turns into a desert. This results in drought like situation, due to losing of rich fertile top soil by erosion (air or water), deforestation, improper land use practices, unsustainable agricultural practices are some examples to mention. The driving forces of this is rapid urbanization which comes with felling of trees, changing of climate, groundwater extraction, minimal recharge (hydrological balance), poor land-practice in agriculture. Water- surface and sub-surface sources has severely impacted due to change in the landform as fertile lands are slowly converting into semi-arid and arid type soil and vegetation. In urban context, drought like situation is seen when there is no equitable distribution, accessibility of freshwater resource. This situation is generally seen when the demand of water for current as well as future population is not met. This may be use to poor water quality, inaccessible ground water source, inefficient water supply scheme/infrastructure, minimal source of water etc. This study finds the indicators of drought in urban Kochi city, and how increasing population will impact the current water supply scenario. In addition, to the effect of climate change which is directly affecting the natural and the human entity in the ecosystem.
Keywords: Urban Drought, Climate-change, Future Population, Urbanization, Hydrological Balance.
