Water Crisis Hits Indian Cities: 60 Crore Indians Facing Water Scarcity, Situation Likely To Worsen

Delhi is in a dire situation due to the ongoing water crisis. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that long queues for water tankers are seen in many areas of Delhi, including Kusumpur Pahadi, Okhla, Sangam Vihar and Vivekananda Camp, while NDMC has managed to supply water once in VIP areas. The IT hub of India, Bengaluru, is currently facing a daily shortfall of 200 million litres of water. Cities like Mumbai and Chennai are also grappling with water shortages. According to a NITI Aayog report, around 600 million Indians are facing water stress at present. Approximately 2,00,000 people die every year due to lack of water. The situation is expected to worsen as the demand for water will exceed its supply by 2050. A WMO report titled '2021 State of Climate Services' indicates that due to population growth, the per capita annual water availability in India is continuously declining. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the per capita water availability will further decrease to 1,367 cubic metres by 2031. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment suggests that an estimated 484.2 billion cubic metres, equivalent to 48.42 billion one-litre water bottles, are wasted every day.

According to the United Nations, water usage in the last century has increased more than twice the rate of population growth. By 2025, it is estimated that 1.8 billion people will live in areas with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population will live in water-stressed regions due to use, development, and climate change.

Over-extraction, pollution, and climate change are putting increasing pressure on groundwater resources. India's situation is particularly concerning. While India has 17 per cent of the world's population, it only has about 4 per cent of the world's fresh water. It's alarming that India has just 4 per cent of the world's renewable water resources.

Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment and an environmentalist, says that the water crisis emerging in Bengaluru this year should be a matter of concern for the entire country. Our cities will remain livable only when even the poorest resident has access to clean drinking water. Bengaluru receives adequate rainfall, and it has lakes that can collect this rainwater and recharge the groundwater. These lakes also prevent flooding during heavy rains. Every drop of water in cities can be used for the future. Managing the water that flows into the city sewers should also be considered for water conservation. Water engineers need to step up, rethink, and rework on the ground. This is Bengaluru's story today, but it could be any city's story tomorrow.

India's Metropolitan Cities Can Learn From Singapore And Israel

Rainwater harvesting is essential for recharging groundwater, lakes, and ponds. This will reduce water problems in both urban and rural areas. Modern cities like Singapore practice rainwater harvesting. Almost half of Singapore's land is used to capture rainwater. Such initiatives can significantly mitigate water scarcity issues in cities like Bengaluru. Countries like Singapore and Israel and many major cities around the world are addressing drinking water crises by preventing water wastage and treating wastewater. In Delhi, more than half of the drinking water is wasted due to theft and leakage.

In places like Singapore and Tokyo, this wastage is around five per cent. Former member of the Delhi Jal Board, R.S. Tyagi suggests that steps should be taken to prevent water wastage in Delhi, similar to Singapore, with the help of technology during water distribution and in homes. Using treated wastewater can address the water crisis.

Delhi's Deteriorating Condition

TERI scientist Chander Kumar Singh says that according to a Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report, Delhi loses an average of 0.2 metres of groundwater every year. This means that every day, the water level below Delhi's ground is dropping by 0.05 centimetres. About 80 per cent of the sources here have reached critical or semi-critical conditions. A TERI study reveals that due to the increasing concrete surface in Delhi-NCR, most of the rainwater flows away, preventing groundwater recharge. The rapid urbanisation and increasing concrete surfaces have directly impacted groundwater recharge. It is estimated that by 2031, more than 70 per cent of rainwater will flow away into rivers through drains.

Falling Water Levels In Delhi

According to a groundwater report released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti last November, the groundwater level in the capital is rapidly falling. The worst condition is in the New Delhi district, and the situation in other districts is also not good. Out of 34 in Delhi, only three have safe groundwater levels, while 22 are categorised as extremely sensitive.

In many places, the water level has gone down by 20 to 30 metres. If this issue is not addressed, the groundwater in these cities will be depleted. This will further exacerbate the drinking water crisis. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), by 2050, 200 cities worldwide could reach Day Zero, including four Indian cities—Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai, and Hyderabad—in the top ten. Day Zero means the city has exhausted all its available water sources. To avoid this situation, groundwater extraction needs to be reduced, and water conservation should be promoted. Environmentalist Anil Joshi says that air pollution and the increasing depletion of water resources have become significant challenges for us. The growing air pollution in cities is becoming deadly and is the cause of many diseases. Our water sources are drying up due to reckless exploitation. Many seasonal rivers in the mountains are on the verge of extinction. The groundwater level is continuously dropping. Moreover, there is no system in place for recharging the ground. If timely steps are not taken, a large part of the country will face a water crisis in the future. We need to encourage the installation of mandatory water harvesting systems in homes or buildings in our cities. Steps must also be taken for water management. Steps should also be taken to increase the number of reservoirs.

Water Wastage

The average Indian wastes about 30 per cent of their daily water needs. According to the United States Geological Survey, a dripping faucet that drips 10 drops per minute wastes 3.6 litres of water per day, and each toilet flush consumes about six litres of water. A CSE report indicates that 484.2 billion cubic metres of water, equivalent to 48.42 billion one-litre water bottles, are wasted every day, while approximately 160 million people in the country do not have access to clean and fresh water.

Water Scarcity In India

According to the World Bank, the per capita water availability in India is around 1,100 cubic metres, indicating severe scarcity. When per capita water availability falls below 1,700 cubic metres, the country is considered to be experiencing water stress. When it falls below 1,000 cubic metres, the country is considered to be experiencing severe water scarcity. In comparison, the global per capita water availability is 5,500 cubic metres.

According to the report of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, most of the water bodies in the country are very small. Most of the water bodies in India are smaller than one hectare. Moreover, the report also revealed that the water in many water bodies is so old and dirty that it is unfit for use and can cause various diseases. Hence, this water is not deemed usable.

Government Plans For Water

National Water Policy - Under this policy, a part of the river is reserved for use, while another part is left to flow naturally to ensure the availability of clean drinking water.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - Launched in 2015-16, this scheme aims to increase the physical access of water on farms and expand the area under assured irrigation.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan, 'Catch the Rain' campaign - This campaign aims to construct rainwater harvesting structures suitable to climatic conditions to store rainwater.

Atal Bhujal Yojana - Atal Bhujal Yojana is a central sector scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,000 crore, aiming to promote sustainable groundwater management with community participation. It envisages the participation of people through the preparation of water budgets, and the preparation and implementation of Gram Panchayat-wise water security plans, among other measures.

Impact On Agriculture

India uses 80 per cent of its water in agriculture. According to a 2019 NITI Aayog report, about 74 per cent of the area under wheat cultivation and 65 per cent of the area under rice cultivation will face severe water scarcity by 2030.

Need To Save Water Through Efficient Irrigation

According to a research report by DCM Shriram and Satav Knowledge, if irrigation water is used efficiently, 20 per cent of water can be saved.

Consequences Of Water Crisis In India

The water crisis in India results in reduced agricultural productivity, waterborne diseases, and economic challenges. It hampers development and affects the overall well-being of communities.

Proper Use Of Wastewater

According to the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water's 'Reuse of Treated Wastewater in India' report, if arrangements are made to sell treated wastewater in select areas in India, its market value could be Rs 83 crore by 2025, which would rise to Rs 1.9 billion by 2050. The study indicates that the volume of wastewater generated in India is such that the clean water obtained from treating wastewater by 2050 could irrigate an area 26 times the size of Delhi.

Water Level Decreasing By Three Centimetres Annually

According to the '2021 State of Climate Services' report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), India has recorded a decline in terrestrial water storage at the rate of 1 cm per year over the past 20 years (2002-2021). Due to population growth, the per capita annual water availability in India is continuously decreasing. It has reduced from 1,816 cubic metres in 2001 to 1,545 cubic metres in 2011. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the per capita water availability will further decrease to 1,367 cubic metres by 2031.

Increasing Water Consumption

According to estimates based on World Resources Institute (WRI) data, out of 164 countries and regions analysed, 51 are likely to experience high to extremely high water stress by 2050, accounting for 31 per cent of the population. Most countries in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, India, and North African countries like Algeria, Egypt, and Libya are expected to consume at least 80 per cent of their available water by 2050.

Polluted Rivers

The State of Environment (SOE) Report 2023 reveals that 279 (46 per cent) rivers in 30 states of the country are polluted, although a slight improvement was seen in 2022 compared to 2018 when 323 rivers in 31 states were polluted.

The Omti River in Jabalpur has turned into a drain

Once a flowing river, the Omti River in Jabalpur has turned into a drain.

The fate of Khundari is similar - Just like the Omti River has fallen victim to urban pollution, Khundari has also faced a similar fate. Experts say that the Khundari River once flowed from Bilhari and Tilhari and merged with the Narmada River just before Gwarighat, but it has also soon turned into a drain.

Uttarakhand: The Rispana River in Dehradun was once called a lifeline river, with water fit for drinking, but now its existence is under threat.

Jharkhand: The Swarnarekha River, once called the lifeline of Jamshedpur, is now in worse condition than a drain.

(Note: This story has been translated by Ankit Kumar for Jagran English.)