IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL

About 70 % of the Earth's surface is covered by water, the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Even the fact that water is an essential life sustaining commodity, does not faze or deter human beings from exploiting it—this resource is being depleted at an alarming rate. India is a country of religion and rituals. Rivers play an important role in performing these activities. A dip in the holy Ganges during the Maha Kumbh Mela festival will cleanse their souls of sin; the banks are also used for routine work (washing of clothes, bathing, etc) and for cremation. Many partially burnt bodies are pushed into the waters, ashes of the dead are scattered in the Ganges. In many regions of India, river water is the main source of drinking water. India's 14 major, 55 minor and several hundred smaller rivers receive millions of litres of sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoffs. Most of these rivers have been degraded to sewage drains with free flowing obnoxious effluent