URBAN WATER CRISIS: A CRISIS OF GOVERNANCE - Says UN

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“Urbanization brings opportunities

for more efficient water management

and improved access to drinking water and sanitation.

  At the same time, problems are often magnified in cities, and are currently outpacing our ability to devise solutions.  I urge governments to recognize the urban water crisis for what it is – a crisis of governance, weak policies and poor management, rather than one of scarcity” says Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations in his message to mark World Water Day which falls on 22 March every year.   
The international observance of World Water day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio De Janeiro. The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. This is the first time in human history that most of the world’s population lives in cities: 3.3 billion people …and the urban landscape continues to grow.
38% of the growth is represented by expanding slums, while the city populations are increasing faster than city infrastructure can adapt.

Source :UN