Water scarcity in India

Water scarcity involves water stress, water shortage or deficits, and water crisis. This may be due to both nature and humans. Main factors that contribute to this issue include poor management of resources, lack of government regulation, and man made waste. [1]18 percent of the world's population which resides in India only has access to 4 percent of usable water sources. Official data in the past decade depicts how annual per capita availability of water in the country has plummeted significantly with 163 million Indians lacking access to safe drinking water.[2] [3]

Causes

The water sources are contaminated with both bio and chemical pollutants. 21% of the country's diseases are water-related with only 33% of the country having access to traditional sanitation.[4] Excessive use of groundwater for agriculture has also caused a strain in the resource. As India is one of the top agriculture producers in the world, the consumption of water for land and crops is also one the highest. The results of the widespread use of ineffective techniques used for irrigation aligned with mismanagement are few of the reasons for the water deficit. [5]

A significant portion of water used for industrial and domestic purposes is waste when returned to the streams. The demand for freshwater is increasing with the growing population, but the decreasing amount of supply fails to meet the needs of the people.[6]

The increased amount of solid wastes in water systems such as lakes,canals and rivers also heavily pollute the water. To combat this problem, the government issued the Ganga Action Plan issued in 1984 to clean up the Ganges River. However, much of the river remains polluted with a high coli form count at many places. This is largely due to lack of maintenance of the facilities as well inadequate fees for service. [7] Due to this issue, urgent need for safe drinking water is 70.1% of the households in urban areas. 18.7 % in rural received organized pipe water supply and others have to depend on surface and ground water which is untreated.[6]

Freshwater deficit

Along with the strain on surface water, the country is also facing great stress with freshwater. Lack of strict state regulation on ground water development has caused a strain on the amount of freshwater available. Indifference from bureaucratic powers and constant neglect has caused the problem to intensify. In hand with the lack of government interference and continued industrial waste deposited into major rivers, most freshwater entering the bodies of water is defiled. The approximation of the untreated water entering the water sources such as rivers and lakes is 90 percent and only furthers the problem. [8]

Impact on cities

In 2016, the city of Latur experienced a great water shortage. Much of the farming industry came to a halt and created both food insecurity and massive unemployment. Much of the local economy and farming regions nearly collapsed with the citizens having no choice but to use the polluted water. [9]

Effects on animals

The acute water shortage prevailing in the forest areas of Tamil Nadu's districts of Madurai and Dindigul has led to the deaths of Indian gaurs found in the forest of the region, as they come in search of water are killed falling into the wells.[10]

Counter measures

Community led initiatives

With support from government and UNICEF, villagers in Palve Budruk, located in the drought-prone Parner Block in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, developed a catchment plan covering 1,435 hectors – over 80% of the land available. The system has three check dams, 20 canal bunds, two small percolation tanks linked to the main tank and 19 village ponds. Water stored in the percolation tank, is strictly meant for domestic use only. Piped water is supplied for an hour a day in the morning, during which time families fill up water for drinking and cooking.[11]

Government led initiatives

SIS Seoul International School is Fundraising to bring water to India, and can be found in South Korea, or siskorea.They have also started building a strong community for the water crisis in india

Raising awareness

The Canadian start-up Decode Global has developed the mobile game Get Water!, a game for social change focusing on the water scarcity in India and the effect it has on girls' education. The game's primary goal is to raise awareness of the water crisis, by educating children as well as adult gamers. To put more focus on children'd learning, the company has published a 6-part lesson plan for 4-6 grade teachers, available for download as a pdf from the game's website.

Utilization of ground water

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has notified 82 areas (Districts, Blocks, Mandals, Talukas, Municipalities) for regulation of ground water development.[12] In these areas, installation of new ground water abstraction structures is not permitted without prior specific approval of the Authority / Authorized officer. Moreover, proposals for setting up/expansion of ground water based industries including bottled water manufacturing units are forwarded by State Pollution Control Boards and Bureau of Indian Standards to CGWA for seeking No Objection Certificate (NOC) for ground water withdrawal. NOC is not accorded to such industries including bottled water manufacturing units p eas notified by the Authority. In non-notified areas, NOC is issued with mandatory pre-conditions of adoption of rain water harvesting system, monitoring of ground water abstraction as well as monitoring of ground water level and quality etc. by the industry. For enforcement of the regulatory directions issued under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, concerned Deputy Commissioners/District Collectors have been authorized to take necessary action in case of violations of directives of CGWA in the notified areas.

According to Indian government report, warns that 21 cities will run out a groundwater by years of 2020.[13]

  • Rainwater harvesting – Rain water is accumulated and used for ground water recharge. This increases the ground water availability.[14]
  • Farm pond – Farm ponds are constructed near the farming field. The rain water which runs off the ground are collected by these ponds. These ponds helps agriculture in dry lands.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mehta, Prashant (2012). "Impending water crisis in India and comparing clean water standards among developing and developed nations" (PDF).
  2. ↑ scrmb.cpcb (2013-10-09). "Water quality of Ground Water - 2008". Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  3. ↑ shashi.bhushan (2016-03-23). "Sharing of Water with Neighbouring States (From: Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation)". Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  4. ↑ "Water In Crisis - Spotlight India". The Water Project. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  5. ↑ "Water crisis in India – problem and its solution". My India. 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  6. 1 2 Nagdeve. "POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN INDIA" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "India's Water Crisis: Causes and Cures". www.nbr.org. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  8. ↑ "Water Scarcity: India's Silent Crisis | Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  9. ↑ Rajawat, Somya (21 June 2016). "Drought and Water Security in India" (PDF). Future Directions International.
  10. ↑ J Arockiaraj (2013-07-09). "Water scarcity leading Indian gaurs to death traps". Times of India.
  11. ↑ "Overcoming Water Scarcity - UNICEF".
  12. ↑ "List of Notified Areas for Control and Regulation of Ground Water". Central Ground Water Authority. Archived from the original on 2011-07-12.
  13. ↑ https://scroll.in/video/883445/video-21-indian-cities-will-run-out-of-groundwater-in-2-years-says-a-government-report
  14. ↑ "Rainwater harvesting". Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, India. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Farm ponds play big role in tiding over drought". The Hindu. India. 17 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Vidya Kulkarni. "Overcoming Water Scarcity". UNICEF - India. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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