Three burgeoning urban centres of India – Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and Udupi and Mangaluru in coastal Karnataka – have been identified as being on the cusp of a major water crisis, as demands increase and supplies diminish. The repercussions of such a situation potentially lead to a ‘Day Zero’ scenario – a state in which taps run dry and water use becomes strictly limited to vital services only.
In the Eye of the Storm: Shimla
Shimla, nestled in the scenic landscape of Himachal Pradesh, boasts a population of 0.17 million along with approximately 10,000 visitors daily during peak tourist season. Summer brings in tourists but also a spiking water demand – as high as 45 million litres per day (MLD). Unfortunately, decreasing rainfall and snowfall, along with the drying up of perennial water sources, leaves the city ill-equipped to cater to this demand. The reserves dwindle between a marginal 18 to 27 MLD.
The Impending Crisis in Udupi
Udupi, a city in coastal Karnataka, relies mainly on the Swarna river and Baje dam for its water supply. However, the dam has recently hit the ‘dead storage’ limit – a stage where the remaining water cannot be drained by gravity and requires pumping. In a desperate bid to manage the limited water supply, the city has been divided into six zones and drinking water from the Swarna is rationed, with each zone receiving water once every six days.
Mangaluru: A City in Need
Mangaluru, another city experiencing a water crisis, initially constructed a vented dam across the Netravati river at Thumbe in 1993 for an adequate, year-long water supply. Given the city’s future water requirements, another dam was built 50 meters downstream in 2016. However, this year, with no inflow into the Netravati, the corporation had to resort to water rationing.
The Grim ‘Day Zero’ Situation
| City | Population | Daily Water Demand During Peak Season (MLD) | Current Water Reserves (MLD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimla | 0.17 million | 45 | 18-27 |
| Udupi | Data not Available | Data not Available | Once Every Six Days |
| Mangaluru | Data not Available | Data not Available | Rationed |
The term ‘Day Zero’ signifies a situation when all taps run dry, and the usage of water becomes restricted to vital services only. With the ongoing water crisis in Shimla, Udupi, and Mangaluru, these places are being likened to India’s own versions of Cape Town, South Africa.
The Story of Cape Town: A Dire Warning
Cape Town caught global attention when in January 2018, officials announced that the city, with its 4 million residents, was three months away from running out of municipal water. To circumvent the largest drought-induced water failure in history, Cape Town’s government increased water tariffs, banned non-essential usage of water, and introduced a new water pressure system. These measures, combined with farmers diverting additional stored water to the city, helped Cape Town avoid the worst of the crisis and serve as a cautionary tale for cities like Shimla, Udupi, and Mangaluru.
