Table of Contents

Introduction

Even while water makes up 70% of the world, just 1% of it is easily used by humans, making it a crucial yet finite resource. The catastrophic water crisis in India is experiencing jeopardizes the country’s environmental, social, and economic stability. There is a pressing need for conservation and effective use of water resources due to population increase and climate change. For sustainable growth and to provide safe drinking water for future generations, this situation must be resolved.

I will attempt to explain the current water issue in India, its origins and effects, and potential solutions in this blog post that adheres to sustainable development principles.

State of Water Crisis in India

With 18% of the world’s population living there and only 4% of the freshwater resources available to it, India is very vulnerable to water shortage. The 2019 “Composite Water Management Index” from NITI Aayog estimates that 600 million Indians are subject to high to severe water stress. India came up at number 120 out of 122 nations in the NITI Aayog 2019 water quality ranking.

The research also notes that India’s per capita water availability is around 1,100 cubic meters, which is near the 1,000 cubic meter water shortage level per person and below the 1,700 cubic meter water stress threshold.
By 2030, it is anticipated that 21 Indian cities—including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi—will run out of groundwater.
Rapid urbanization, industrialization, population increase, and climate change have all contributed to over-extraction of groundwater and water body pollution, which has made this situation worse.
In early 2024, Bengaluru saw “abnormally high temperatures” that exacerbated water scarcity and produced urban heat islands, putting the city on the verge of a “Day Zero” situation. This worrying circumstance emphasizes how urgently India must confront its worsening water shortage.
Agriculture will be most negatively impacted, followed by water-intensive businesses, as the anticipated water demand is predicted to surpass the availability by 70% by 2025. By 2050, this may lead to a 6% decline in GDP.

Water Conflicts in India

Conflicts over the distribution of finite water resources are exacerbated by water shortage, which also disturbs daily living. The difficulty of equitably allocating water is highlighted by the fact that conflicting needs frequently result in conflicts between communities.

Conflicts between the park’s water requirements and the irrigation needs of nearby farmers frequently worsen in Keoladeo National Park, as seen by forest fires during dry seasons.
Similar to this, farmers in the upper canal of Maharashtra’s Upper Godavari Project illegally siphon off water, which causes disputes about unfair water allocation. These conflicts are made worse by overuse of water resources and little government action.
As seen in the Bhavani River watershed, where unplanned growth and growing residential and industrial demands have resulted in a considerable imbalance between water supply and demand, population increase enhances competition for water.
Water supplies are further taxed by inadequate irrigation practices, as shown in Punjab, where water-intensive crops like sugarcane and paddy are grown. Punjab’s water issue has gotten worse as a result of its inability to save water and switch to less water-intensive crops.

Causes of the Water Crisis

Overdependence on Groundwater: In India, 85% of drinking water and 65% of irrigation come from groundwater. Water tables have significantly dropped as a result of over-reliance, particularly in areas like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. 256 out of 700 districts have critical or overexploited groundwater levels, according to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
Inefficient Water Management: 85% of the freshwater available in India is used for agriculture, which depends on ineffective techniques like flood irrigation. The situation is made worse by cropping patterns that are influenced by government policies that encourage the growth of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane in areas with limited water resources.
Pollution and Contamination: Large amounts of freshwater are now useless due to water contamination from untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) claims that over 70% of India’s surface water is contaminated. Untreated sewage is one of the main reasons of the serious pollution that river systems like the Ganga and Yamuna experience.
Climate Change: Water supply is changing as a result of climate change-induced extended droughts, frequent floods, and altered rainfall patterns. A decrease in monsoon rainfall, which is essential for restocking rivers, lakes, and groundwater supplies, has been reported by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Rapid Urbanization: Existing water supplies are under tremendous strain due to the growing urban population and rising water demand. “Day Zero” situations have occurred in cities like Chennai, when residents are compelled to rely on water trucks when the taps run empty.
Lack of Adequate Water Infrastructure: The effective management and distribution of water resources has been hampered by a lack of investment in water infrastructure, such as storage reservoirs, canals, and treatment plants.
Population Growth: With 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is the most populated country in the world. By 2050, it is expected to have 1.7 billion people. The nation’s already scarce water supplies are under tremendous strain due to this quick expansion.
Inadequate Policy Implementation: Effective attempts to address water shortages have been hampered by the lax enforcement of environmental laws, groundwater controls, and water conservation programs.

Impact of Water Scarcity

Health Issues: Many health issues, such as dehydration, infections, illnesses, and even death, can result from a lack of access to clean drinking water. According to a research by NITI Aayog, India’s inadequate water supply claims the lives of almost 200,000 people annually.
Ecosystem Damage: In India, animals and natural environments are also under risk due to water shortage. In their quest for water, many wild animals are compelled to invade human communities, putting these species at danger and perhaps leading to confrontations. Water shortage also upsets ecosystems’ ecological balance and biodiversity.
Reduced Agricultural Productivity: Water constraint has a detrimental effect on the agriculture industry, which uses 85% of the nation’s water. Reduced agricultural yields might result from this, endangering food security and making farmers further poorer.
Economic Losses: Water shortage can impede India’s economic development and progress. It can lower energy output, interfere with industrial production, and increase the cost of water delivery and treatment. Water shortage can also have a negative impact on social welfare, trade, and tourism.

Also read: Rainwater Harvesting

Challenges to Water Conservation

Numerous obstacles prevent India from managing and conserving water effectively. Resolving these issues is essential to guaranteeing the nation’s long-term water security. These are the main obstacles:

Inadequate Infrastructure: The infrastructure for storing and distributing water is inadequate in many rural locations. Water shortage is made worse by problems like defective pipes and ineffective systems, which restrict access to dependable and clean water sources.
Legal and Institutional Challenges: Institutional fragmentation, insufficient enforcement, and contradictory and conflicting legislation define India’s water governance architecture. This intricacy makes it challenging to put into practice efficient water conservation strategies and leads to misunderstandings about the roles and duties of different authorities.
Inadequate Data and Monitoring: For policymaking to be successful, accurate data on water availability, quality, and consumption is necessary. However, there is little access to real-time information due to India’s insufficient water data infrastructure.
Overemphasis on Supply-Side Solutions: Many water policies ignore demand-side strategies like cutting back on water use and boosting efficiency in favor of boosting supply through massive infrastructure projects like dams and canals.
Lack of Community Participation: Participation from the community is essential to many water schemes, especially those pertaining to groundwater management. In reality, though, community engagement is frequently low because of a lack of knowledge, inadequate training, and a lack of project ownership.
Financial Constraints: Implementing water conservation initiatives is hampered by a lack of financing and conflicting needs for money. The adoption of cutting-edge water-saving technology and the construction of necessary infrastructure are hampered by financial limitations.
Groundwater Depletion: Aquifers are being depleted at alarming rates as a result of excessive groundwater extraction for household, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Long-term water supply and agricultural output are seriously threatened by this.
Wastewater Reuse Challenges: Wasteful consumption by a variety of businesses creates challenges for wastewater recycling and reuse. The capacity to use this important resource is limited by the frequent absence of effective treatment and management methods.
Political Opposition: Political opposition to large-scale initiatives like the Interlinking of Rivers stems from worries about possible floods in certain areas during the monsoon season and water shortages in other areas during dry spells. Implementing comprehensive water management techniques is hampered by this opposition.
Data Availability and Knowledge Gaps: There are large information gaps regarding water resources as a result of disjointed data gathering and a lack of collaboration across different government departments. This restricts accountability and transparency in water governance and impedes evidence-based policymaking.
Vested Interests and Conflicting Stakeholders: Water management improvements that are required are frequently thwarted by opposition from vested interests, including political and economic parties. Conflicting interests across different sectors might make conservation and water distribution more difficult.

Policy Measures

To combat water scarcity, India has launched a number of initiatives, programs, and legislation. These solutions concentrate on providing equal access, improving water use efficiency, and managing water resources sustainably.

National Water Policy (2012): Agriculture, sanitation, and drinking water are given top priority in the National Water Policy (NWP), which highlights the necessity of integrated water resources management. It encourages the collection of rainwater, the revitalization of conventional water features, and the use of contemporary irrigation methods such as sprinkler and drip irrigation. Critics counter that the policy ignores regional differences in water supply and is not enforceable.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign that was started in 2019 with an emphasis on water management and conservation. Rainwater collection, water conservation, traditional water body rehabilitation, watershed development, and afforestation are the five main intervention areas that are highlighted. The program aims to address 1,592 water-stressed blocks in 256 Indian districts. JSA’s implementation has been difficult despite its noble intentions because of a lack of funding and little community involvement.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): The World Bank-funded Atal Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater management program that seeks to increase water usage efficiency in seven states by involving the community. By include local people in the planning and execution process, it focuses on sustainable groundwater management. Because of the scheme’s decentralized methodology, Gram Panchayats are able to decide how to manage water resources. Although widespread implementation is still awaited, early studies show some success, especially in raising awareness and promoting water-efficient activities.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): The Jal Jeevan Mission was started in 2019 with the goal of connecting all rural households to tap water by 2024. JJM is one of the most ambitious water delivery schemes, with a budget of more than Rs 3.6 lakh crore. By including local government organizations—particularly Gram Panchayats—into guaranteeing the sustainability of water supplies, it emphasizes decentralization. About 60% of rural households had access to tap water as of October 2023, according to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Water quality, source sustainability, and finance use issues still exist, nonetheless.
Namami Gange Programme: Launched in 2014, the Namami Gange Program seeks to revitalize the Ganga river by implementing afforestation projects, river surface cleaning, and sewage treatment infrastructure. Industrial pollution has been somewhat reduced by the program, but it still has trouble cleaning sewage from the towns and cities that border the river, many of which continue to release untreated effluents.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): By developing irrigation infrastructure and encouraging micro-irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems, PMKSY seeks to improve agricultural water usage efficiency. Implementation has been sluggish despite advancements, and many farms continue to rely on conventional irrigation techniques. According to a study by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), numerous states have not used PMKSY money as intended.

Addressing Water Scarcity in India

Reducing Overconsumption: The excessive and inefficient use of water in a variety of sectors, such as families, industry, and agriculture, is one of the main causes of water shortage. The monitoring and control of water use may be greatly improved by integrating contemporary technologies like remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Improving Water Efficiency: Mitigating water shortage requires improving the efficiency of water systems and infrastructure, including distribution networks, treatment facilities, and storage facilities. Water waste may be minimized and water quality can be enhanced by fixing leaks, reducing losses, and modernizing equipment.
Expanding Water Sources: The availability and accessibility of water for a variety of needs can be improved by investigating new or alternative water sources, such as groundwater extraction, aqueducts, desalination, rainfall collecting, and water reuse.
Strengthening Decentralized Water Governance: It is essential to give local institutions and communities the tools they need to manage water resources. This calls for funding for Gram Panchayats and other local governance organizations, as well as access to technology and capacity training.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture: Modern irrigation methods, agricultural diversity, and water-efficient crops should all be encouraged by the government. Water conservation requires switching from crops that require a lot of water to ones that can withstand drought, particularly in desert areas.
Protecting Water Resources: Natural resources including rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, and soils that provide and control water must be preserved and restored. These habitats are important for preserving the water cycle, reducing the effects of drought and floods, filtering pollutants, and halting erosion.
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: India’s water infrastructure has to be strengthened against the effects of climate change. This entails creating drought-resistant water storage systems, improving flood control systems, and constructing climate-smart dams.
Reforming Water Policies: Addressing water shortage requires reforming the organizations and policies that control water distribution and management. In addition to encouraging stakeholder collaboration and engagement, this reform should include the establishment of explicit guidelines and incentives for water consumption, price, and conservation.

Conclusion

An integrated strategy including legislative changes, technology advancements, and community involvement is necessary to address India’s complicated and multidimensional water situation. The success of the government’s ambitious initiatives to alleviate water shortages depends on their efficient execution, coordination, and long-term planning.

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