Water Crisis

 India has long undervalued one of its most precious resources, water. The country’s chronic mismanagement of water is staring at it now. Over 600 million Indians rely on the monsoon to replenish their water sources, and the unpredictable nature of rain leaves them vulnerable.
The NITI Aayog report on Composite Water Management Index said that India is facing its ‘worst’ water crisis in history

Water crisis in India:-

Taps in Shimla went dry this summer, posing an unprecedented water crisis in the hill town.

Reasons for water crisis can be :-

• A combination of population explosion, unplanned growth of the city and its expansion to some traditional catchment areas (a region from which rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir) have led to a reduction in the natural flow of water, and large-scale deforestation.
• Climate change, leading to much lower precipitation during the winter months. As a result, the natural flow and recharge of water in the region has fallen sharply
• The water demand in Shimla during peak tourist season is very high
• Failure of State governments to check unplanned development and exploitation of water resources. There is no attempt at the central or state levels to manage water quantity and quality
• The vegetation pattern has changed, tree cover is shrinking and unscientific dumping of debris in water streams is rampant.
• The debris blocks the natural course of water bodies.
• Increasing number of tube wells resulting in depletion of groundwater.
• Changes in farming patterns lead to consumption of more water for irrigation and also change the soil profile because of the use of fertilizers
• The states ranked lowest like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand – are home to almost half of India’s population along with the majority of its agricultural produce. 
• There is also a lack of interest in maintaining India’s traditional water harvesting structures.
• Increase in population, reduced rainfall, encroachment of water bodies, poor handling of industrial waste water,exploitation of natural resources, change in food consumption pattern etc. have all come together to deplete the amount of water available

Implications

• India’s water crisis has implications for the health of the entire population.
• Farmers suffer crop losses.
• Decrease in tree cover, shrubs and grass in the catchment areas.
• Queues for government water tankers and public taps are already a common sight in Indian slums.
• Policies like giving free electricity to farmers or financial support for groundwater extraction results in uncontrolled exploitation and wastage of resource.

Measures being taken:-

• Solid waste management rules 2016 for effective management of waste in urban areas.
• Mihir shah committeewas appointed and the following main recommendation was made.
• In the new water resource governance scenario facing the country, there is a need to envisage a high-level central organisation like National water commission that is forward looking, strategic, agile and transdisciplinary in its skill set.
• It can look in the multiple areas like River rejuvenation, Aquifer mapping and participatory groundwater management, Urban and industrial water management,knowledge management and capacity building etc .
• Rain water harvesting was made mandatory in Tamilnadu so the precedent can be followed in other states as well.
• With Pradhan mantra krishi sinchayi yojanagovernment is focussing on irrigation reforms as well.
• The National Water Policy (2012), with an emphasis on the need for appropriate ground water planning, development and management was formulated. Additionally, a ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India’ was introduced and circulated to State Governments in 2013, envisaging construction of artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting structures

Concerns / Challenges

• Primarily water is not valued in India
• There is great awareness now about air pollution; however, India’s water crisis does not get that kind of attention.
• Inter-State river disputes.
• Adverse climatic conditions are believed to be the main factor for reduced flow in streams.
• Drying up of the streams and increasing erratic pattern of rainfall.
• In cities and towns, lack of infrastructure to deliver piped water to homes.
• Poor data management and an abject failure to properly price water.
• Where data is available, it is often unreliable due to the use of outdated collection techniques and methodologies.

Way Forward:-

• Deepen our understanding of our water resources and usage and put in place interventions that make our water use efficient and sustainable.
• Augmentation of watersheds that can store more good water, for use in agriculture and to serve habitations.
• Strict pollution control enforcement.
• Decentralisation of irrigation commands, offering higher financial flows to well-performing States through a National Irrigation Management Fund.
• Groundwater extraction patterns need to be better understood through robust data collection.
• Pollution can be curbed by levying suitable costs.
• Poor maintenance of pipelines, consistent leakage and illegal tapping of water are some of the issues that need to be addressed on a war-footing.
• Adopting rainwater harvesting techniques is the need of the hour.
• A legal mandate will work better than just competition and cooperation; it would make governments accountable.
• These forward-looking changes would need revamped national and State institutions, and updated laws.
• Urban India needs to focus on recycling and harvesting water, havingbetter testing and purification facilities and increase public awareness on the need to conserve water.
• Large catchment areas need to be developed around water bodies so that natural recharge of groundwater takes place. A good example is the Seog catchment area which has been denoted as a wildlife sanctuary and where no construction is allowed.
• Greywater recycling, a method of recycling wastewater from kitchen sinks, showers and laundry fixtures.
  Greywater recycling helps reduce household water usage by about 50% .
• This year’s World Water Development Report makes it clear that nature-based solutions which are also aligned with the principles and aims of the 2030 Agenda for
• Sustainable Development can offer answers to our most pressing water-related challenges.

International examples:-

Israel has been a role model for the world in matters of water management with its innovation of drip irrigation. The country has also set the template for reusing wastewater in irrigation. It treats 80 percent of its domestic wastewater, which is recycled and constitutes nearly 50 percent of the total water used for agriculture. Israel now saves as candlelight for countries like India.
Israel’s drip and micro-irrigation solutions rapidly spread worldwide. Just one recent example of how this method has impacted food supply in foreign countries is Tipa, literally “Drop,” an Israeli-developed kit that has allowed 700 farming families in Senegal to reap crops three times a year instead of just once, even on infertile land.
Comprehensive water budgeting :-
Water budgets at the watershed level will inform communities about how much water they have, so it can be equitably shared within communities. This needs a strong water governance system based on awareness building, science and a commitment to fairness and sustainability.

Conclusion:-

Participatory approach to water management that has been successfully tried all over the world, as also in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, needs to be adopted.
Groundwater and surface water must also be viewed in an integrated, holistic manner. An integrated approach and the awareness by the people that if water is saved today then there will be more available tomorrow is very necessary.

By: SONAM SHEORAN