Water Resource And Its Scarcity

Water Resource And Its Scarcity: People across countries have understood that there is a need to be cautious about water availability and judicious use.

Understanding Water Availability

Global Water Distribution: 97.5% of Earth’s water is saltwater; Most freshwater is in ice caps or underground;

Only 0.26% is in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Current Water Crisis

According to the United Nations, nearly 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services.
It is not just about the availability of water but also about its quality and distribution.
In many regions, water sources are contaminated, leading to health issues and reduced quality of life.

What is Water Crisis?

Water Crisis– Water crisis refers to the situation where the available potable, safe water in a region is less than its demand. The World Bank refers to water scarcity as a condition when the annual per-capita availability is less than 1000 cubic metres.

Water Crisis Situation in India

Water Crisis

India possesses only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources, despite supporting 17% of the world’s population.
A/C NITI Aayog’s “Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)”, report India is undergoing the worst water crisis in its history. Nearly 600 million people were facing high to extreme water stress.
India’s annual per capita availability of 1,486 cubic meters in 2021 is in the water stress category (less than 1700 cubic meters). As per Govt estimates, this may reduce to 1,341 cubic metres by 2025 and 1,140 cubic metres by 2050.

Lack of Access to Safe Drinking Water

According to NITI Aayog CWMI Report

200,000 people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.
75% of the households in the country do not have access to drinking water.
40% of India’s population will have no access to drinking water by 2030.

Overexploitation and pollution of Groundwater

India is the largest groundwater user in the world, with its total use exceeding 25% of the global usage.
Nearly 70% of Ground water is contaminated. India is placed at the rank of 120 among 122 countries in the water quality index.

What are the reasons for the Water Crisis in India?

Rising water demand – According to NITI Aayog, India’s water demand is increasing at a rapid rate. India’s water demand will be twice the available supply by 2030. Also, the rate of depletion of groundwater in India during 2041-2080 will be thrice the current rate.

Groundwater use for agriculture – There is high groundwater usage in agriculture due to faulty cropping patterns.

For ex – Water-intensive paddy cultivation in the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Encroachment of Natural Water Bodies- There has been destruction of lakes and small ponds to meet the infrastructure needs of burgeoning populations. For ex- Encroachment of lakes in Bengaluru.

Climate Change- Climate Change has led to erratic monsoon and reduced water levels in many rivers. This has induced water crisis in India.

Discharge of Pollutants- There has been contamination of ground water resources by the discharge of industrial chemicals, sewers and improper mining activities.

Detached Citizens- Since water is a free resource, it is not valued by the citizens. Citizens are completely detached from the water issues.

Lack of proactive management policies- Water management policies in India have failed to keep pace with changing demands of time.

Governance issues-

a. Water governance in India has been fragmented. The centre and the states have their respective departments for governing various issues related to water.

b. There have been separate departments for surface water and groundwater. Central Water Commission (for surface water) and Central Ground Water Board (for groundwater).

What are the impacts of Water Crisis in India?

1. Economic Impact

As per World Bank, India’s GDP could decline by as much as 6% by 2050 due to water scarcity.
Water scarcity will result in decline of food production. This will hamper India’s food security and have serious impacts on the livelihood of farmers and farm labourers.
Decline in industrial production as Industrial sectors such as textiles, thermal power plants,etc. may suffer due to water shortage.

2. Ecological Impact

Water scarcity may lead to extinction of flora and fauna.
Heavy metal contamination (Arsenic, cadmium, nickel etc.) and oil spills in rivers and oceans respectively may threaten the marine biodiversity.

3. International Relations

Water scarcity can lead to conflict among nations to get control over the water bodies. For ex- Impact on India-China relations due to Chinese building of dams over Brahmaputra river.

4. Social Impact

Deterioration of health of children due to intake of contaminated water. It leads to a reduction in human capital.
The increased out-of-pocket expenditure on medical expenses adversely impacts the poorest and the most vulnerable sections.
Increased hardships for women like school dropout,’water wives‘ to fetch water in drought prone regions.

5. Federal Relations

Amplification of the existing inter-state water disputes like Kaveri, Krishna, Godavari. There will be emergence of new disputes in the future.
There will be a rise in parochial mindset and regionalism among states and may hinder growth of national unity.

What are the Government initiatives?

Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)	It was started in 2019 as a movement for water conservation, recharge, and rainwater harvesting in 256 water-stressed districts. The JSA now covers all 740 districts in the country.
Atal Bhujal Yojana	The programme lays emphasis on the recharge of groundwater resources and better exploitation of the groundwater resources.
Amrit Sarovars	Centre has decided to build 50,000 water bodies (Amrit Sarovar), with an approximate area of one acre, across the country for water conservation.
Nal Se Jal Scheme	The scheme ‘Nal se Jal’ was started to ensure piped drinking water to every rural household by 2024. It is a component of the government’s Jal Jivan Mission. The nodal agency of the scheme will be Jal Shakti Ministry.
Namami Gange program	It is a comprehensive program with twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution in Ganga (Nirmal Dhara), conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga (Aviral Dhara).
National Water Policy	The policy focuses on the conservation, promotion and protection of water. It promotes measures like rainwater harvesting for meeting the demand of water.
Jal Shakti ministry	Jal Shakti Ministry has been formed by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Its aim includes-providing clean drinking water, implementing the Namami Ganga project, resolving the inter-state water disputes, cleaning Ganga.

Recent Findings

Groundwater Depletion in India;
Lack of prioritisation and guidelines;
Issues with Water Management;
Policy and Infrastructure Gaps;
No segregation of water;
No policy for industrial usage;
Wastage in various fields; and Smart cities lack basic water infrastructure.

Importance of Water Conservation

Sustainability: Conserving water ensures that future generations have access to this vital resource.
Economic Benefits: Efficient water use can reduce costs for households, businesses, and governments.
Environmental Protection: Reducing water consumption helps protect ecosystems and biodiversity.
Health and Sanitation: Access to clean water is essential for maintaining public health and hygiene.

Strategies for Saving Water

Efficient Irrigation: Adopting modern irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation can significantly reduce water use in agriculture.
Water-Saving Technologies: Installing low-flow fixtures, efficient appliances, and smart irrigation systems can help conserve water in homes and businesses.
Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater for later use can reduce dependence on groundwater and municipal water supplies.

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Treating and reusing wastewater for non-potable purposes can alleviate pressure on freshwater resources.
Public Awareness and Education: Educating the public about the importance of water conservation and encouraging behavioural changes can lead to significant water savings.

Read more: Depreciation Vs Devaluation