Water is the most valuable and important natural resource which is essential for our survival. However, there is over consumption of freshwater due to different factors. This crisis of water scarcity is most visible in India as well as in other developing countries. Water is also important for our body but here we are only going to talk about Water as a natural resource.
What is Water Scarcity
Is their scarcity or abundance of water in India? A clear answer to this question is Scarcity. Now what is it? Water Scarcity is the lack of freshwater resources to satisfy water demands. 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.
Half of the world’s largest cities have been facing water scarcity.
How is the water scarcity measured?
- The absolute minimum water requirement for domestic usage is 50 liters per person per day, though 100-200 liters is often recommended.
- Considering the needs of agriculture, industry and energy sectors, the recommended minimum annual per capita requirement is about 1700 cubic meters.
- If a country like India has only about 1700 cu. meters water per person per year, it will experience only occasional or local water distress.
- If the availability falls below this threshold level, the country will start to experience periodic or regular water stress.
- If the water availability declines below 1000 cu. meters, the country will suffer from chronic water scarcity. Lack of water will then start to severely affect human health and well-being as well as economic development.
- If the annual per capita supply declines below 500 cu. meters, the country will reach the stage of absolute scarcity.
What is the status of water availability in India?
- India receives 4000 bcm (billion cubic meters) rainfall each year. Out of this, 1869 bcm remains after evaporation = The actual availability is only 1137 bcm.
- Even in that 1137 bcm of water, there is a lot of temporals as well as regional variations in the availability.
- For instance, on the one side, there are water surplus states such as Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and on the other side, there are water scarce states such as Maharashtra (Vidarbha, Beed), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.
- Moreover, some states that are known to be water abundant such as Punjab, Haryana have their own issues.
What is the recent water crisis in India?
- Maharashtra is facing a water crisis of unprecedented proportions. After years of drought, the river currents have ebbed, water in dams and reservoirs have depleted and over-exploitation of groundwater has raised concerns regarding the long-term availability of water.
- Meanwhile, media reports claim IT firms in Chennai are asking employees to work from home. The reason is that they don’t have enough water to sustain their operations. It hasn’t rained for almost 200 days in the city and it may not get adequate rain to get over the water crisis for the next 3 months.
- In North India, the people of arid Thar Desert of Rajasthan are spending Rs. 2500 for getting 2500 litres of water which they share with their cattle.
- With Punjab facing the threat of desertification and the state struggling to break away from the wheat-paddy cycle, farmers in the state have been adopting a decade-old scheme to utilise underground pipeline system for irrigation.
- In light of this crisis, Central government on its part has created a Jal Shakti Ministry under a full-fledged cabinet minister to resolve the water crisis but a lot more needs to be done.
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