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Climate Change

Q. Climate change-induced deficient rainfall and poor management of water resources have pushed India to the verge of water poverty. Elucidate the way in which the water crisis can be tackled.

 Answer

Water is the most valuable natural resource as it is essential for human survival and life on earth. However, the availability of freshwater for human consumption is highly under stress because of a variety of factors. This crisis of water scarcity is most visible in India as well as in other developing countries.

 Water Poverty

• Water poverty is the lack of freshwater resources to satisfy water demand.
• It is manifested by partial or no satisfaction of expressed demand, economic competition for water quantity or quality, disputes between users, irreversible groundwater depletion, and negative effects on the environment.
• It affects every continent and was categorized in 2019 by the World Economic Forum as one of the largest global risks with respect to its potential impact over the next decade.
• One-third of the global population (2 billion people) live under situations of severe water scarcity at least one month of the year. Half a billion people in the world affected by severe water scarcity all year round.

 Reasons for the Water Poverty in India

Changes in Water Storage

• Although the number of large irrigation dams has increased from 236 in 1960 to 5,334 in 2020, the gross water availability of dams dwindles during summer.
• Studies show that perennial rivers like Ganga, Godavari and Krishna dry up in many places during summer.
• It is estimated that the level of groundwater in Ganga and Brahmaputra, which are said to be the largest groundwater rich river basins in the world, declines by 15-20 mm per year.
• Owing to human and other interventions in the catchment area, the sediment deposit in the water storage area of major and medium dams has increased, which is reducing the total water storage.

Agricultural Demand

• • The Ministry of Water Resources has estimated that the country’s total water demand may exceed the amount of water available for use by 2050, due to the rapid economic development and increasing population.

Cultivation of more Water-Intensive Crops

• • Due to income and market-related reasons, farmers have been cultivating more water-intensive crops in recent years.
  • For example, between 1990-91 and 2020-21, the area under water-intensive sugarcane increased by 32%, paddy by 6%, and banana by 129%.
  • This has led to a rapid increase in the demand for water in recent times.

Unequal Distribution

• Unequal distribution of water resources across different regions of the country is also a major issue. Some regions have abundant water resources while others face acute shortages.

Over-extraction of Groundwater

• Over-extraction of groundwater for agriculture, industries, and domestic purposes has led to the depletion of groundwater levels in many parts of the country.
• This has made it difficult for people to access water for their daily needs.

Pollution

• The pollution of rivers, lakes, and other water bodies has made it difficult to use water for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes.
• Industries and urban areas discharge untreated waste into water bodies, which not only pollutes the water but also reduces its availability.

How India should Address the Issue of Water Conservation

Encouraging Rainwater Harvesting

• India receives a significant amount of rainfall each year, especially during the monsoon season.
• For example, in a single day, Mumbai received 950 mm of rainfall in 2005, Chennai 494 mm in 2015, and Mount Abu 770 mm in 2017. In November 2022, Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu received 420 mm of rainfall in a single day.
• By implementing rainwater harvesting systems, India can collect and store rainwater for later use. This can be done by building rainwater harvesting structures like rooftop rainwater harvesting, percolation pits, and recharge wells.

• Maintaining Small Water Bodies

• India has a vast network of small water bodies like ponds, lakes, and tanks, which play a vital role in recharging groundwater and providing water for irrigation.
• The 5th Minor Irrigation Census mentions that India has a total of 6.42 lakh small water bodies. Due to lack of proper maintenance, their storage capacity has been declining.
• As a result, the irrigated area of tanks has declined sharply from 45.61 lakh hectares in 1960-61 to 16.68 lakh hectares in 2019-20.
• By restoring and maintaining these small water bodies, India can help conserve water and improve the availability of water in nearby communities.

Removing Silting

• Silting is a significant problem in many rivers, lakes, and ponds in India.
• Over time, sediment and debris accumulate at the bottom of water bodies, reducing their storage capacity and impairing water quality.
• By removing the silt and debris, India can restore the storage capacity of water bodies and improve the quality of water.

Implement Efficient Irrigation Methods

• Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in India. Therefore, the government should promote efficient irrigation methods such as drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, which can reduce water wastage and improve crop yield.

Adopt Water-Efficient Technologies

• The government should encourage the adoption of water-efficient technologies such as low-flow toilets, water-efficient washing machines, and dishwashers, which can significantly reduce water usage.

Promote Awareness

• The government should conduct awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of water conservation and the need to use water judiciously.

Way forward 

India is not a water-deficit country, but due to severe neglect and lack of monitoring of water resource development projects, many regions in the country face water stress from time to time. Therefore, balancing water demand with available supply is the need of the hour for future economy.