{"id":365292,"date":"2026-06-16T17:04:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T11:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=365292"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:04:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T11:34:01","slug":"water-crisis-in-india-causes-consequences-explained-pointwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/water-crisis-in-india-causes-consequences-explained-pointwise\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Crisis in India &#8211; Causes &#038; Consequences &#8211; Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-365309\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-03_17_26-PM.png?resize=750%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Water Crisis in India\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-03_17_26-PM.png?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-03_17_26-PM.png?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-03_17_26-PM.png?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-16-2026-03_17_26-PM.png?w=1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>India is experiencing one of the most severe water crises in its history. With only 4% of the world\u2019s freshwater resources but home to nearly 18% of the global population, the country faces acute stress in meeting the water demands of its people, agriculture, and industry. By 2030, India\u2019s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, risking severe shortages for millions and potentially impacting the nation\u2019s GDP.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><a href=\"#toc1\">What is Water Crisis? What is the situation in India?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc2\">What are the reasons for the Water Crisis in India?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc3\">What are the impacts of Water Crisis in India?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc4\">What are the government initiatives?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#toc5\">What should be the Way Forward?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc1\"><\/a>What is Water Crisis? What is the situation in India?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Water Crisis:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Water crisis refers to the situation where the available potable, safe water in a region is less than its demand. The World Bank refers to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">water scarcity<\/span> as a condition when the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">annual per-capita availability<\/span> is less than <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1000 cubic metres<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Experts generally categorize the crisis into two distinct types:\n<ol>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Physical Water Scarcity:<\/b> There simply is not enough water naturally available in the region. This is common in naturally arid zones like the Middle East and North Africa.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Economic Water Scarcity:<\/b> Water exists, but the infrastructure, management, or funding required to clean, store, and safely distribute it to the population is completely lacking.\u00a0<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-365294\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-140305.png?resize=457%2C441&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Water Crisis\" width=\"457\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-140305.png?w=457&amp;ssl=1 457w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-16-140305.png?resize=300%2C289&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Water Crisis Situation in India:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 663px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #eff5b3;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 330px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 15.8075%; height: 330px;\"><strong>Water Crisis<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 84.1925%; height: 330px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">India possesses only <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">4% of the world&#8217;s freshwater resources<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">, despite supporting <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18% of the world&#8217;s population<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">According to NITI Aayog&#8217;s \u201c<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: #ff0000;\">Composite Water Management Index<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: #ff0000;\">CWMI<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"><strong>)<\/strong>\u201d, report India is undergoing the worst water crisis in its history. Nearly <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">600 million people<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> were facing high to extreme water stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">India\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">annual per capita availability<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> of <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1,486 cubic meters in 2021<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> is in the <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">water stress category<span style=\"color: #333333;\"> (<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">less than 1700 cubic meters). As per Govt estimates, this may reduce to <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1,341 cubic metres by 2025<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1,140 cubic metres by 2050<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\">Many cities are already facing existential threats. Chennai&#8217;s &#8220;Day Zero&#8221; crisis, where water supplies completely ran dry, is a warning. The concept of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">&#8220;Day Zero&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> refers to the day when a city&#8217;s drinking water supply is effectively exhausted and taps run dry.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 210px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 15.8075%; height: 210px;\"><strong>Lack of Access to Safe Drinking Water<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 84.1925%; height: 210px;\">According to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">NITI Aayog CWMI Report:<br \/>\n<\/span><strong>a.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">2,00,000 people<\/span> die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.<br \/>\n<strong>b.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">75% of the households<\/span> in the country do not have access to drinking water.<br \/>\n<strong>c.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">40% of India\u2019s population<\/span> will have <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">no access to drinking water<\/span> by 2030.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 63px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 15.8075%; height: 63px;\"><strong>Overexploitation and pollution of Groundwater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 84.1925%; height: 63px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">India is the <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">largest groundwater user<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"> in the world, with its total use exceeding 25% of the global usage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"citation-69 citation-end-69\">The Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) highlights that the national average for groundwater extraction sits at roughly 60%.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-68 citation-end-68\">However, this masks severe regional over-extraction in India&#8217;s agricultural &#8220;breadbasket&#8221; states, where water capital is dropping at an unsustainable rate:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Punjab:<\/b> <span class=\"citation-67 citation-end-67\">156% extraction rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"6,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Rajasthan:<\/b> <span class=\"citation-66 citation-end-66\">147% extraction rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"6,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Haryana:<\/b> <span class=\"citation-65 citation-end-65\">137% extraction rate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">Nearly <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">70% of groundwater is contaminated<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">. India is placed at the rank of 120\u202famong 122 countries in the water quality index.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_365295\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-365295\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-365295 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GW-Indian-states-2024-1024x819-1.png?resize=750%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Water Crisis\" width=\"750\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GW-Indian-states-2024-1024x819-1.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GW-Indian-states-2024-1024x819-1.png?resize=300%2C240&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GW-Indian-states-2024-1024x819-1.png?resize=768%2C614&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-365295\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: OpenCity<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc2\"><\/a>What are the reasons for the Water Crisis in India?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Rising water demand:<\/strong>\u00a0According to NITI Aayog, India\u2019s water demand is increasing at a rapid rate. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">India&#8217;s water demand<\/span> will be <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">twice<\/span> the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">available supply by 2030<\/span>. Also, the<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> rate of depletion of groundwater<\/span> in India during <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">2041-2080<\/span> will be thrice the current rate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flawed Agricultural Policies<\/strong>: Agriculture consumes nearly <b data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"28\">90% of India&#8217;s available freshwater<\/b>, leaving very little for industrial and domestic use. The crisis here is driven by policy rather than necessity:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Subsidized Power and &#8220;Free&#8221; Pumping:<\/b> In many states (like Punjab and Haryana), the government provides free or highly subsidized electricity to farmers. This has led to the unrestricted, 24\/7 pumping of groundwater using deep tube wells.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cultivation of Water-Intensive Crops<\/strong>: Due to government Minimum Support Prices (MSP) guaranteeing a market for rice and sugarcane, farmers grow these water-intensive crops in naturally semi-arid regions. It takes roughly <b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"17\">3,000 to 5,000 liters of water<\/b> to produce just one kilogram of rice in India &#8211; a rate that is completely unsustainable for regions with dipping water tables.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unregulated Groundwater Exploitation<\/strong>: Because surface water (rivers and lakes) is unreliable or polluted, India has become the <b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"89\">world\u2019s largest extractor of groundwater<\/b>, pulling more than the United States and China combined:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Lack of Legal Restraints:<\/b> Historically, land ownership in India gave the landowner absolute rights over the water beneath their property. This has led to a &#8220;race to the bottom,&#8221; where neighbors dig deeper and deeper wells to out-pump one another.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Failed Natural Recharge:<\/b> As water is extracted at a rate faster than the monsoons can replenish it, aquifers are permanently collapsing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encroachment of Natural Water Bodies &amp; Wetlands:<\/strong> Historically, Indian cities relied on interconnected systems of lakes, stepwells, and floodplains to store water. Cities like Bengaluru and Chennai have built IT parks, housing societies, and roads directly on top of these ancient water bodies, destroying their natural storage capacity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Severe Water Pollution (Quality Crisis)<\/strong>: India does not just have a water <i data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"33\">quantity<\/i> problem; it has a massive water <i data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"74\">quality<\/i> crisis. Much of the water that is physically available is too toxic to use:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Untreated Sewage:<\/b> Nearly 70% of urban sewage in India is dumped directly into local rivers and lakes without any treatment. Rivers like the Yamuna and Ganga are severely compromised by municipal waste.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Industrial Effluents:<\/b> Chemical, textile, and manufacturing plants frequently discharge untreated, toxic heavy metals into surface water and unlined pits, which then leach down into deep groundwater aquifers.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Geogenic Contamination:<\/b> As groundwater tables drop to extreme depths, the remaining water reacts with deep rock layers, leading to dangerous, natural spikes in <b data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"160\">arsenic, fluoride, and salinity<\/b>, making the water unsafe to drink without heavy chemical treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Climate Change:<\/strong> Climate change is acting as a massive risk multiplier, destabilizing the predictable weather patterns. Climate change has led to:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"25,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Erratic Monsoons:<\/b> Instead of steady rain spread across 3 to 4 months, India now frequently experiences long dry spells interrupted by sudden, violent downpours. These intense bursts cause immediate flooding and runoff, giving the ground no time to absorb the water.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"25,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Glacial Retreat:<\/b> The Himalayan glaciers, which act as natural water towers feeding India\u2019s major perennial rivers (like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra), are melting at an accelerated pace. While this initially causes flooding, it threatens to permanently reduce the dry-season flow of these vital rivers in the coming decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of proactive management policies:<\/strong>\u00a0Water management policies in India have failed to keep pace with changing demands of time. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">The Easement Act of 1882<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">granting groundwater ownership rights<\/span> to the landowner leading to indiscriminate use of water resources.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Governance issues:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Water governance<\/span> in India has been <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">fragmented<\/span>. The Centre and the States have their respective departments for governing various issues related to water.<\/li>\n<li>There have been separate departments for surface water and groundwater. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Central Water Commission<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">for surface water<\/span>) and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Central Ground Water Board<\/span> (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">for groundwater<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Politicization of inter-state disputes<\/span> by the political parties have hindered the quick resolution of disputes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Detached Citizens:<\/strong>\u00a0Since water is a free resource, it is not valued by the citizens. Citizens are completely detached from the water issues.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc3\"><\/a>What are the impacts of Water Crisis in India?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #f2c9f5;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 2.30297%;\"><strong>Economic Impact<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 97.697%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>NITI Aayog&#8217;s Composite Water Management Index (2018) warned that India&#8217;s water crisis could cost <strong>6% of GDP<\/strong> by 2050 if unaddressed.<\/li>\n<li>Water scarcity will result in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">decline of food production<\/span>. This will hamper India\u2019s food security and have serious impacts on the livelihood of farmers and farm labourers. <span class=\"\">A study shows that a 100mm drop in rainfall can reduce farmer incomes by\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">15%<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> during the kharif season<\/span><span class=\"\">. Climate change could further erode agricultural incomes by\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">15-18%<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0on average, and up to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">25%<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> in unirrigated areas<\/span><span class=\"\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Decline in industrial production<\/span> as Industrial sectors such as textiles, thermal power plants etc. may suffer due to water shortage.<\/li>\n<li>Over 80% of India&#8217;s electricity comes from thermal power plants (coal and gas) which require massive amounts of water for cooling. Intense water shortages regularly force these plants to temporarily shut down operations, triggering widespread power outages that disrupt manufacturing.<\/li>\n<li>In cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, municipal water supply cannot keep up with demand. This has allowed private water tanker operators &#8211; often called <strong>&#8220;tanker mafias&#8221; &#8211; <\/strong>to thrive. They pump water illegally from surrounding villages and sell it to urban residents and tech parks at highly inflated prices, driving up the cost of living and doing business.<\/li>\n<li>India&#8217;s rapidly growing tech sector relies heavily on data centers, which require millions of liters of water daily for cooling systems. Building these facilities in water-stressed zones like Chennai or Hyderabad is becoming highly risky, threatening billions of dollars in tech investments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 2.30297%;\"><strong>Ecological Impact<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 97.697%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Drying Rivers and Dead Lakes:<\/b> Perennial rivers are turning into seasonal streams. Major rivers like the Cauvery and Krishna frequently fail to reach the sea for parts of the year. Rivers like the <strong>Yamuna, Sabarmati, and Cooum<\/strong> are ecologically dead or severely degraded through stretches, unable to support aquatic life.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Loss of Biodiversity:<\/b> As wetlands and marshes dry up, local flora and fauna disappear. Migratory birds are losing their winter nesting grounds, and aquatic life in India&#8217;s river systems is facing localized extinctions. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Heavy metal contamination<\/span> (Arsenic, cadmium, nickel etc.) and oil spills in rivers and oceans respectively may <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">threaten the marine biodiversity<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 2.30297%;\"><strong>Social Impact<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 97.697%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Due to scarcity of clean water, millions of people are forced to rely on contaminated surface water. This drives massive annual outbreaks of preventable waterborne diseases such as <strong>cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A<\/strong>, and <strong>typhoid<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Deterioration of health of children due to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">intake of contaminated water<\/span>. It leads to a reduction in human capital.<\/li>\n<li>The <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">increased out-of-pocket expenditure on medical expenses<\/span> adversely impacts the poorest and the most vulnerable sections.<\/li>\n<li>As communities dig deeper to find water, they tap into toxic aquifers. Over <b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"105\">300 districts<\/b> in India have groundwater heavily contaminated with <b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"171\">arsenic and fluoride<\/b>. Prolonged exposure leads to <strong>arsenicosis<\/strong> (skin lesions and cancers) and <strong>fluorosis<\/strong>, a painful condition that cripples bones and rots teeth.<\/li>\n<li>Increased hardships for women like school dropout, &#8216;<strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">water wives<\/span><\/strong>&#8216; to fetch water in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">drought prone regions<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 2.30297%;\"><strong>Impact on Federal Relations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 97.697%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Amplification of the existing <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">inter-state water disputes<\/span> like Kaveri, Krishna, Godavari. There will be emergence of new disputes in the future.<\/li>\n<li>There will be a rise in<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> parochial mindset<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">regionalism<\/span> among states and may hinder growth of national unity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 2.30297%;\"><strong>Impact on International Relations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 97.697%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Water scarcity can lead to conflict among nations to get control over the water bodies. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Impact on India-China relations due to Chinese building of dams over Brahmaputra river and India-Pakistan relations with India putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f0f261; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h2 class=\"red-h2-box\"><strong>Case Study: Bengaluru Water Crisis:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Water starved Bengaluru is facing the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">looming threat of Day Zero<\/span> (when government will shut down water connections for homes and businesses).<\/li>\n<li>A <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">BBC report<\/span>, based on UN-projections, had listed <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Bengaluru in the second position<\/span> after <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Brazil&#8217;s S\u00e3o Paulo<\/span> among the 11 global cities that are likely to run out of drinking water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_286513\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-286513\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-286513 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=750%2C743&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Water Crisis in India\" width=\"750\" height=\"743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=1024%2C1014&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=300%2C297&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=768%2C760&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=1536%2C1521&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?resize=1568%2C1552&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/3-Coloum-Paragraph-Mind-Map-300-x-297-mm-5.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-286513\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Created By Forum IAS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc4\"><\/a>What are the government initiatives?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"height: 296px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #f7f7cd;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 120px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%; height: 120px;\"><strong>Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) &#8220;Catch the Rain&#8221; Campaign<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%; height: 120px;\">Executed annually right before the monsoon season, this campaign pushes for nationwide mandatory rainwater harvesting. <span class=\"citation-140\">It focuses on retrofitting traditional stepwells and tanks, removing encroachments from urban wetlands, and establishing localized <\/span><strong><span class=\"citation-140\">Jal Shakti Kendras<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"citation-140 citation-end-140\"> (Water Knowledge Centers) in every district<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 116px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%; height: 116px;\"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%; height: 116px;\"><span class=\"citation-143 citation-end-143\">This scheme focuses directly on seven of India\u2019s most groundwater-stressed states (including Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh).<\/span> <span class=\"citation-142\">Instead of relying entirely on top-down government mandates, it implements <\/span><b data-path-to-node=\"6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"288\"><span class=\"citation-142\">participatory water budgeting<\/span><\/b>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%; height: 30px;\"><strong>Amrit Sarovars<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%; height: 30px;\"><span class=\"citation-139 citation-end-139\">Launched in 2022 to combat the collapse of local surface water bodies, this project aims to develop and rejuvenate at least 75 massive water bodies (ponds\/lakes) in every single district of India.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-138 citation-end-138\">Each &#8220;Amrit Sarovar&#8221; is built with a substantial holding capacity to boost local irrigation and naturally recharge regional aquifers<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%; height: 30px;\"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) \u2013 Har Ghar Jal<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%; height: 30px;\"><span class=\"citation-147 citation-end-147\">Launched in 2019, this initiative aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural home.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-146 citation-end-146\">Prior to the mission, only about 16.7% of rural homes had tap water.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-145\">More than <\/span><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"236\"><span class=\"citation-145\">81.5% of rural households<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-145 citation-end-145\"> have been successfully connected.<\/span> <span class=\"citation-144 citation-end-144\">The mission was extended to achieve 100% coverage, shifting its emphasis heavily toward local operations and auditing infrastructure quality.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%;\"><strong>Namami Gange Program <\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%;\">It is a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">comprehensive program<\/span> with twin objectives of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">effective abatement of pollution in Ganga<\/span> (<strong>Nirmal Dhara<\/strong>), <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga<\/span> (<strong>Aviral Dhara<\/strong>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%;\"><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%;\">Jal Shakti Ministry has been formed by <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">merging<\/span> the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Ministry of Water Resources<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation<\/span> and the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation<\/span>.<br \/>\nIts aim includes: Providing clean drinking water, implementing the Namami Ganga project, resolving the inter-state water disputes, cleaning Ganga.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%;\"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%;\"><span class=\"citation-135\">Operating under the motto <\/span><b data-path-to-node=\"12,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"74\"><span class=\"citation-135\">&#8220;Per Drop More Crop,&#8221;<\/span><\/b><span class=\"citation-135 citation-end-135\"> this initiative targets the fact that farming consumes 90% of India&#8217;s water.<\/span> The government heavily subsidizes micro-irrigation systems, pushing farmers to pivot away from traditional flood irrigation toward precise <b data-path-to-node=\"12,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"312\">drip and sprinkler systems.\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/a-new-water-policy-for-india\/#gsc.tab=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>National Water Policy<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%;\">The policy focuses on the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">conservation<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">promotion<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">protection<\/span> of water. It promotes measures like <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">rainwater harvesting<\/span> for meeting the demand of water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 17.8161%;\"><strong>Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 82.1839%;\"><span class=\"citation-141 citation-end-141\">A highly scalable, community-driven initiative that focuses entirely on creating artificial groundwater recharge structures.<\/span> Millions of localized recharge and storage works have been completed across both rural and urban areas to catch monsoon runoff.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"blue-h2-box\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a id=\"toc5\"><\/a>What should be the Way Forward?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Promotion of Water Conservation:<\/strong>\u00a0Encouraging rainwater harvesting to capture monsoon run-off. Also, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">traditional water conservation practices<\/span> like Kudimaramath practice (Tamil Nadu), Ahar Pynes (Bihar), Bamboo Drip irrigation System(North-East) <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">must be revived<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Demand-side Management:<\/strong>\u00a0States can adopt a participatory approach with the involvement of local communities. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> The <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Swajal model<\/strong> adopted by Uttarakhand<\/span> focusing on community-based management of water resources. <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Revival of Johads<\/span><\/strong> in Rajasthan desert by Rajendra Singh (Waterman of India).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nature-Based Solutions:<\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Nature-based solutions<\/span> refer to the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">solutions that mimic natural processes<\/span> to provide <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">human<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ecological<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">societal benefits<\/span>. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Artificial Floodplains <span style=\"color: #333333;\">to increase water retention<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Forest management<\/span> to reduce sediment loadings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>River Basin Management:<\/strong>\u00a0River basin management must be done through <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">hydrological-basin approach<\/span> rather than <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">administrative boundaries<\/span>. Also, steps must be taken to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">promote interlinking of rivers<\/span>, while addressing its environmental concerns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Evidence-based Policymaking: <\/strong>We must create robust water data systems with real-time monitoring capabilities. <strong>For ex-<\/strong> Andhra Pradesh\u2019s online water dashboard for mapping of hydrological resources for better policymaking.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implementing the Mihir Shah Committee Report: <\/strong>The Mihir Shah Committee recommendations must be implemented for restructuring the water governance in India:\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Establishing <strong>National Water Commission<\/strong><\/span> by merging Central Water Commission(CWC) and Central Groundwater Board(CGWB). It would ensure that the surface and the groundwater are taken as a single entity.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Focusing on management and maintenance of dams<\/span> rather than construction of dams.<\/li>\n<li>Adopting a <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">participatory approach<\/span> to water management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decentralized Local &#8220;Water Budgeting&#8221;<\/strong>: India cannot rely on a single, top-down policy because water availability varies drastically across regions. Following NITI Aayog&#8217;s new data-driven frameworks, India must roll out localized <b data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"107\">water budgeting<\/b> across all districts. Using digital platforms like <strong>Varuni<\/strong>, local village and town councils can calculate exactly how much water they have vs. <span class=\"citation-194 citation-end-194\">how much they consume.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Agricultural Resets<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Crop Diversification:<\/b> <span class=\"citation-193 citation-end-193\">Governments must realign procurement policies (like the Minimum Support Price) to actively incentivize water-efficient crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds in semi-arid zones, rather than flooding fields for paddy and sugarcane.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Scale Up Precision Irrigation:<\/b> Transition aggressively from wasteful flood irrigation to solar-powered drip and sprinkler irrigation under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"8,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Direct Seeded Rice (DSR):<\/b> Promote water-saving farming methods like DSR, which bypasses the traditional, heavily flooded nursery stage for rice farming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shifting to a Circular Water Economy<\/strong>: Cities and industries must stop looking at wastewater as sewage and start treating it as an active resource. Enforce strict urban laws requiring residential complexes, commercial buildings, and factories to treat and reuse 100% of greywater (from sinks, showers, and AC units) for flushing, cooling towers, and landscaping.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Urban Hydrology &amp; &#8220;Sponge Cities&#8221;<\/strong>: To keep cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai from running completely dry, urban planning must prioritize natural water absorption:\n<ul>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"16,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Permeable Infrastructure:<\/b> Urban spaces must integrate porous concrete, green roofs, and retention parks that allow heavy monsoon rains to soak directly into the ground rather than causing flash floods.<\/li>\n<li><b data-path-to-node=\"16,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Eviction of Wetland Encroachments:<\/b> Strict mapping and legal protection are needed to clear illegal real estate and IT infrastructure built directly over ancient floodplains and natural drainage networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span class=\"\">Community Participation<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">: Initiatives like the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0are designed to promote community ownership and responsibility<\/span><span class=\"\">. Success stories, like reviving traditional water harvesting systems in Barmer (Rajasthan), show the power of integrating heritage knowledge with modern techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><br \/>\nIndia\u2019s water crisis is a multifaceted challenge driven by overuse, pollution, mismanagement, and climate change. It threatens health, livelihoods, and the environment. While government schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Bhujal Yojana are steps in the right direction, sustained efforts in conservation, efficient use, community participation, and robust governance are essential for a water-secure future.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/water-water-everywhere-but-not-a-drop-to-drink\/article69701731.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20UN%20University,burden%20of%20single%2Duse%20plastic.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hindu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/our-parched-cities-need-to-make-every-drop-count-recycle-water-10739460\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Express<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>UPSC Syllabus GS 1: Issues related to water resources (Geography), GS 3- Environment<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India is experiencing one of the most severe water crises in its history. With only 4% of the world\u2019s freshwater resources but home to nearly 18% of the global population, the country faces acute stress in meeting the water demands of its people, agriculture, and industry. By 2030, India\u2019s water demand is projected to be&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/water-crisis-in-india-causes-consequences-explained-pointwise\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Water Crisis in India &#8211; Causes &#038; Consequences &#8211; Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10391,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-365292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-pm","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=365292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365292\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=365292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=365292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=365292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}