Impacts of water scarcity on India: Preparing India for water stress, climate resilience

General Studies Paper -3

Context: The article discusses India’s need to prepare for hotter summers and water stress, shifting from temporary disaster relief to long-term climate resilience. It highlights the interconnectedness of water, food, and energy, and calls for policies, efficient water use, and increased adaptation funding.

What is the current status of water in India?

• India houses 18% of the world’s population but only has 4% of its freshwater resources.
• Approximately half of India’s rivers are polluted.
• The country’s major reservoirs are at only 38% capacity.
• India is the largest user of groundwater globally.
• Three-quarters of India’s districts are vulnerable to extreme climate events.
• A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) revealed that 55% of tehsils in India have experienced a significant increase of over 10% in southwest monsoon rainfall in the last decade compared to the previous three.

What are the impacts of water scarcity on India?

• Agricultural Dependency: About 45% of India’s population works in agriculture, which is highly dependent on water for irrigation, influencing crop yields and harvest timing.
• Economic Impact: Water scarcity affects the economy, particularly through agriculture, which employs the largest sector of the workforce.
• Energy Production: Water is crucial for clean energy solutions like green hydrogen production and pumped storage hydropower, necessary for a sustainable power grid.
• Climate Vulnerability: Increased frequency of extreme weather events like floods and droughts disrupts water availability and agriculture.
• Urban Stress: Urban areas face challenges like insufficient water for domestic use and industrial activities due to inefficiencies and pollution.

What should be done?

• Improve Policy Integration: Develop and implement policies that recognize the interconnections between water, food, and energy systems to manage resources more holistically.
• Enhance Water Use Efficiency: Focus on achieving the National Water Mission’s goal to increase water efficiency by 20% by 2025, utilizing water accounting to measure and manage water usage effectively.
• Expand Reuse Initiatives: Promote the reuse of urban wastewater as detailed in AMRUT 2.0, reducing non-revenue water and maximizing available resources.
• Increase Funding for Adaptation: Boost financial support for water-related climate adaptation, utilizing tools like the Green Credit Programme to fund initiatives that improve water management and promote agricultural resilience.