Stemming water insecurity

News: Although water is a renewable source of energy, its scarcity is visible in many places owing to the mismanagement of water resources.

What is the present status of water availability in India?

NITI Aayog, states that nearly 600 million people are facing “high to extreme water stress“. The yearly per capita availability of water has dipped from 5,178 cubic metres at the beginning of the 1950s to merely 1,441 cubic metres now. This is below the water-stress threshold of 1,700 cubic metres. Economic Survey of 2019 also states that India could be a global hotspot of water insecurity by 2050.

What are the reasons behind water scarcity in India?

India receives average annual precipitation (rainfall plus snowfall) of around 120 cm, which is far higher than the global average of about 100 cm. Still, the country faces an acute shortage of water owing to not carefully managing the water resources.

– Most of the water flows down wastefully to the seas

– Only a small fraction of the rainwater is actually conserved in surface water bodies or underground aquifers.

– Even the accessible water is not used judiciously.

– Underpricing of water is a major cause. India was earning revenue from canal irrigation before independence, However, now, it has become a liability.

What are the major sources of water exploitation in India?

Agriculture: It uses more than 80% of the water and most of it is used inefficiently because of the over-irrigation of farmlands. According to various estimates, only 30 to 40% of the applied water is actually utilized by crops. The rest either percolates down to deeper layers or evaporates.

Also, there are cases of groundwater depletion in states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh etc. Liberal subsidies, free supply of power for operating water pumps, are largely responsible for the indiscriminate use of groundwater in these areas.

What reforms should initiate by the government to preserve water?

Revision of water rates: The main objectives of charging an appropriate price for irrigation water are to incentivise its economic use, promote its conservation, and facilitate its equitable distribution. According to studies, even a 10% increase in water-use efficiency in agriculture can save enough water to irrigate an additional 14 million hectares of cropland.

Adoption of micro-irrigation systems: This will help to save water around 60 to 70%. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has found that drip irrigation elevates the water-use efficiency to as high as 85 to 90%. Also, it helps reduce power and fuel consumption and the wastage of applied fertilizers.

Government efforts to promote the concept of “more crop per drop” through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is a welcome step for the efficient use of water resources.

Source: This post is based on the article “Stemming water insecurity” published in Business Standard on 24th January 2022.