India’s Water Crisis

GS1 – Geography

 Context

India faces an intensifying water crisis triggered by over-extraction, climate change, and governance failures, demanding urgent and coordinated action for sustainability and resilience.

Current Water Stress in India

• Global Ranking: 13th among the most water-stressed countries (World Resources Institute).
• 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress.
• 2030 Outlook:
  • Demand may double supply (NITI Aayog).
  • 21 cities, including Chennai, risk complete groundwater depletion.
• Contamination:
  • 70% of water is contaminated.
  • Over 2 lakh deaths annually from waterborne diseases.

 Root Causes of the Crisis

1. Over-Extraction & Mismanagement:
   • Excessive groundwater use, especially for water-intensive crops like paddy.
   • Unregulated urban expansion and shrinking water bodies.
2. Pollution:
   • Discharge of industrial waste and untreated sewage into rivers and lakes.
   • Encroachment on wetlands.
3. Climate Change:
   • Erratic rainfall, floods, prolonged droughts disrupt water supply and agriculture.
4. Poor Infrastructure:
   • Old pipelines, leakages, and fragmented governance frameworks.
5. Lack of Public Awareness:
   • Water seen as a free and infinite resource discourages conservation.

 Implications of Water Scarcity

• Economic:
  • GDP may fall by 6% by 2050 (World Bank).
  • Farmer income could fall by 15–25% in unirrigated areas.
• Social:
  • Unsafe water affects child health, leading to malnutrition and disease.
• Ecological:
  • Biodiversity loss and degradation of fragile ecosystems.
• Federal Tensions:
  • Interstate water disputes (e.g., Cauvery river conflict).
• Geopolitical Risks:
  • Cross-border issues with China (e.g., Brahmaputra damming).

 Government Initiatives   

Scheme/Policy	Focus Area
Jal Shakti Abhiyan	Rainwater harvesting & recharge across 740 districts
Atal Bhujal Yojana	Community-based groundwater management in 7 high-stress states
Amrit Sarovar	Creation of 50,000 water bodies
Nal Se Jal	Piped water to all rural households by 2024
Namami Gange	Cleaning and rejuvenation of Ganga River
National Water Policy	Advocates rainwater harvesting
Aquifer Mapping	Underground water mapping for sustainable use

 

 Way Forward

1. Community-led Solutions:
   • Revive traditional systems like Ahar-Pyne.
   • Support programmes like Swajal.
2. Nature-Based Approaches:
   • Restore wetlands, floodplains, and forests.
3. Technological Interventions:
   • Use real-time water dashboards and AI-based tracking (e.g., Andhra Pradesh model).
4. Policy Reforms:
   • Mandatory rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and desalination in coastal areas.
5. Institutional Reform (Mihir Shah Committee):
   • Establish a National Water Commission by merging water bodies.
   • Focus on dam maintenance and integrated governance.
6. Public Participation:
   • Engage local communities in planning and water governance.