April 25

EVERY event unavoidably brings advantages and disadvantages to society. These good and bad consequences directly or indirectly reflect society. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic which terribly shook the world can bring advantages for the global people of society.

In order to cut the infection changes of the pandemic, the global countries shut down interrelations and transportation with other countries. Consequently, when the movements of people from relevant countries calm down, the natural environment improves by lessening pollution in all aspects.

In fact, pollution in water, ground, and atmosphere, environmental degradation, deterioration of the ecosystem, and depletion of biodiversity species are caused by human beings. Reciprocally, even those human beings will be victims of bad impacts triggered by pollution and environmental degradation. Hence, human beings regardless of country and racism should take care of their daily work not to harm their environment.

For example, the river Ganges had been clean in India, the neighbor of Myanmar, for many years. Local people could consume the water of the Ganges till half a last century when the water in the river was clean in which everybody could see the riverbed. Hence, the river water was useful for some 400 million Indian people residing along both sides of the river.

Gradually, societies improved in industrialization and civilization. In consequence, the water in the Ganges faced pollution. Varieties of wastewater such as sewage water and chemical waste from industries and public residences flowed into the river. Currently, fish from the river is uneatable due to various residues. Such a story should be taken as a lesson for Myanmar.

All Myanmar citizens need to value the four main arteries of Myanmar namely Ayeyawady, Chindwin, Sittoung, and Thanlwin for their long-term existence without environmental degradation and any pollution. Myanmar’s ethnic people are blessed with such kinds of freshwater sources. As such, it is necessary to systematically manage freshwater utilization, conserve forests in the watershed areas and prevent water pollution. Such efforts will reflect the interests of the nation and the people in the long run.

Now is the best time to start the endeavours for the conservation of freshwater sources not only for current generations but for posterity. Taking lessons from the advantages and disadvantages of problems of water sources that other countries urgently face, Myanmar needs to address its freshwater supply ways and means in advance for avoiding the shortage of water and polluted water to have better freshwater management for the entire people.