With the increasing concerns about freshwater scarcity, it’s vital to understand the entire situation and the role various organizations play here. This article discusses the World Wide Fund for Nature, Central Ground Water Board, National Water Policy 2012, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan- Catch the Rain Campaign, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and the status of freshwater shortage in India.
The recent study on water scarcity
A global study was recently conducted by Circle of Blue and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It involved nearly 30,000 people from 31 countries, focusing on attitudes towards freshwater shortages. These countries included Argentina, South Korea, Vietnam, Colombia, Germany, and Peru, where there has been a noticeable increase in concerns about water shortages.
According to the report, 30% of people claimed to be severely impacted by freshwater shortages. There has been a significant rise in concerns about freshwater scarcity, increasing from 49% in 2014 to 61% in 2022 among 17 consistently tracked countries.
It was also observed that urban dwellers (32%) were more likely to be greatly affected by a lack of freshwater than those in rural (28%) or towns and suburban areas (26%). Climate change has greatly impacted around 38% of people, with drought being the most concerning effect.
Understanding India’s freshwater crisis
India is constantly grappling with a freshwater crisis despite holding 16% of the world’s population. However, the country only boasts 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. NITI Aayog reports that a large number of Indians are dealing with high to extreme water stress.
There is an imminent danger of irreversible fresh water scarcity by 2060 in North India, a heavily populated region of the nation. This is due to the declining availability of this crucial resource, a direct result of climate change.
The persistent issues
The rising water pollution in India is one of the major issues. A large amount of domestic, industrial, and mining waste are discharged into water bodies, which can cause waterborne illnesses and affect aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, 256 out of 700 districts in India have reported critical or overexploited groundwater levels according to the Central Ground Water Board (2017).
As cities expand due to rapid urbanization, the per capita use of water increases, causing water to be transferred from rural reservoirs to meet the deficit. This not only escalates the existing crisis but could potentially spark a rural-urban conflict in the future.
Government initiatives for water management
Against this backdrop, the government has launched several initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan- Catch the Rain Campaign, and National Water Policy, 2012 focusing on water management.
A step towards sustainable solutions
To address this crisis, we need to focus on sustainable groundwater management. This entails devising proper mechanisms for artificial recharge to groundwater, rainwater harvesting at the household level, conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater, and regulation of water reservoirs.
Additionally, there should be a shift towards efficient water governance and increased data discipline regarding the status of water bodies. Setting up water conservation zones at regional, state and national levels will further aid the cause.
Modern water management techniques can also play an important role in resolving this issue. With breakthroughs in research and technology, it is now possible to make previously unfit water clean and safe for consumption. Some of these techniques include Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR), Desalinization, Nanofiltration, and Solar and UV Filtration.