Thoughts of Sh. Nadir Godrej on Water

Water
By Nadir Godrej
9/3/2013

Though it's true, that this planet's called Earth.
This should actually be cause for much mirth. 
I am sure that your Astronomy teacher
Said that water's its distinguishing feature.
And indeed by all rights we all ought to
Call this planet not Earth but Water.
As three fourths of its surface is sea
So no shortage is apparent to me.
But indeed there are people who say,
That the wars that may now come our way
Will be fought over water not land.
But that's something I can't understand.
Now some folks might well think I'm at fault,
For forgetting the oceans have salt.
But I feel, if we ponder on this,
Some sea water could be used as it is
For both cleaning as well as cultivation
And much more with some desalination.
It's quite true that this process isn't cheap
But we don't need to make this big leap
If there isn't demand at that price.
All the same you'll agree it's quite nice
For it shows that much water is there
If we're willing to pay a price that's fair.
Now all  water that's free may be short 
At right prices much more can be bought.
And of course if we cleverly apply
Good solutions we could always supply
A good deal of the  water we need
As well as for much of our greed.
Transportation of water costs a lot.
Though through harvesting much can be got.
Because water's so tricky to fetch 
It makes sense to find ways to make it stretch.
It could surely be used more than twice
And then cleaned for a reasonable price.
But in time the cost of cleaning will fall,
While proceeding to cleverly install
New techniques that permit us to clean
Each and every impurity foreseen.
If we now take a look at demand
Very quickly we'd all understand
That the share of agriculture is huge.
All the same the adroit subterfuge 
Of ensuring there is a right price,
Will give us the solution in a trice.
Drip irrigation first comes to our mind
And those using it invariably find
Yield improves and yet water is spared.
Then the acreage could surely be pared
Of those crops that are guzzling too much
Sugarcane could be seen as one such.
Hydroponics could of course be applied
Bioreactors could also be tried.
These techniques could ensure that we lose
Much less water reducing its use.
If there's a price we're required to pay
We will definitely find  a good way.
Some might wonder why we'd want to charge
The impoverished people at large?
Some small quota that's free would be fine
But for more, we should pay, I opine.