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Asia could face water crisis in 2030

13 October 2010 04:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned that Asia could face a severe water crisis in the next two decades, hampering the regions growth if left unaddressed, APA reports quoting Press TV.

An estimate suggests a 40% shortfall in water supply in the region by 2030, said Arjun Thapan, a special senior adviser to ADB on infrastructure and water issues.

He added water demand in Asia is likely to grow alongside food demand, which is anticipated to surge by 70% to 90% in 2030.

Water use efficiency in irrigated cultivation in the region has not increased by more than 1% yearly since 1990, making it complicated to produce more water.

The ADB addressing the dilemma has come up with a draft framework for water operations that calls for efficiency enhancement and greater public-private sector partnerships to tackle the threatening crisis in Asia.

Thapan, referring to the Philippines said that it is the best example so far in Asia as its water concessionaires are publicly owned but privately managed.

"These are the kinds of examples of public and private partnerships needed to help close the water gap not only by improving your rate of use of water with efficiency by bringing in capital," Thapan said.