Water scarcity is emerging as one of the most critical global challenges. Despite water’s abundance, its uneven distribution and degradation due to pollution is a major concern. In India, water scarcity is aggravated by a rapidly growing population, technological advancements, and environmental degradation. This section explores the water resources of India, their availability, sectoral utilization, and the need for conservation.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the distribution and types of water resources in India.
Recognize the importance of water conservation.
Explore the causes of water pollution and depletion.
Comprehend the need for sustainable water management strategies.
Surface Water Resources
India has abundant surface water resources, yet these are unequally distributed across regions due to topographical and hydrological factors.
Major sources: Rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks are the primary sources of surface water. India has approximately 10,360 rivers, each with tributaries extending over 1.6 km in length.
Key geographical areas: States like Kerala, Odisha, and West Bengal have extensive surface water resources in lagoons and lakes.
Water utility: Although much of this water is brackish, it is crucial for activities like fishing and irrigation of specific crops such as paddy and coconut.
Groundwater Resources
Groundwater is an essential source for agriculture and domestic use, but its utilization varies across regions.
Total availability: India’s replenishable groundwater resources amount to about 432 cubic km.
Usage distribution: States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu exhibit high levels of groundwater utilization, while states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Kerala use only a small fraction of their groundwater potential.
Future challenges: If current consumption trends continue, the strain on water resources will grow, leading to critical shortages and regional disputes.
Important Note: Over-exploitation of groundwater has led to several environmental issues, including a decline in water tables and increased fluoride and arsenic concentrations, particularly in states like Rajasthan and West Bengal.
Water Demand and Utilization
India is primarily an agrarian economy, and agriculture remains the dominant sector in water consumption.
Agriculture’s share: Agriculture accounts for about 89% of surface water and 92% of groundwater usage.
Sectoral shifts: While the share of water used in agriculture is currently high, future demands from the industrial and domestic sectors are likely to increase due to urbanization and industrial growth.
Irrigation: Irrigation is essential in areas with irregular rainfall or those prone to drought. This is particularly relevant in northwestern India and the Deccan plateau, where rainfall variability necessitates reliable water sources for agriculture.
Emerging Water Problems
Water scarcity and pollution are growing concerns across India, exacerbated by demographic growth and industrial expansion.
Dwindling resources: Per capita water availability is decreasing due to population growth and rising demand from multiple sectors.
Water quality: Water pollution, caused by foreign substances such as chemicals and waste, is reducing the availability of clean, usable water. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers are among the most polluted in the country.
Water Conservation and Management
The increasing gap between water demand and supply necessitates comprehensive conservation strategies.
Conservation techniques: Water-saving technologies, rainwater harvesting, and watershed management are critical for ensuring long-term water sustainability.
Water legislation: India has enacted several laws to protect water resources, including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Environment Protection Act of 1986. However, the enforcement of these regulations remains weak.
Public awareness: A key to successful conservation efforts is raising public awareness about the importance of water conservation and the need to prevent water pollution.
Important Note: Recycling and reuse of water can be a highly effective strategy in industries and urban settings, reducing the demand for fresh water and helping to alleviate water scarcity.
Watershed Management
Watershed management involves the efficient use and conservation of surface and groundwater resources.
Core principles: Watershed management includes the prevention of runoff, storage, and groundwater recharge through structures like percolation tanks and recharge wells.
Community involvement: The success of watershed management heavily relies on community participation. Government programs like the Haryali project and the Neeru-Meeru initiative have promoted local involvement in water conservation.
Challenges and progress: While some watershed management projects have seen success, particularly in places like Ralegan Siddhi, the majority of such efforts remain at an early stage, highlighting the need for broader awareness and adoption of these practices.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a simple yet effective method for conserving water, particularly in areas facing water shortages.
Techniques: Traditional methods of rainwater harvesting include surface storage bodies like ponds, lakes, and irrigation tanks. In Rajasthan, structures called Kund or Tanka are used to collect rainwater for household use.
Benefits: This practice reduces dependence on groundwater, prevents soil erosion, improves groundwater quality, and helps manage urban water demand.
Important Note: Urban areas, where the demand for water exceeds supply, can greatly benefit from large-scale rainwater harvesting projects to bridge the demand-supply gap.
Emerging Solutions and Challenges
As water scarcity worsens, several long-term solutions are being explored to manage the country’s water resources.
Interlinking of rivers: One proposed solution to water shortages is the interlinking of rivers, transferring water from surplus areas to water-deficit regions.
Desalinization: In coastal areas, desalinization of seawater is another potential solution, though high costs limit its widespread implementation.
National Water Policy: The National Water Policy of 2002 prioritizes drinking water, irrigation, and hydro-power. It encourages the inclusion of drinking water components in all major irrigation projects and promotes water conservation through education, regulation, and incentives.
Key Comparisons of Water Resources Utilization Across Sectors
Sector
Surface Water Utilization
Groundwater Utilization
Agriculture
89%
92%
Industrial
2%
5%
Domestic
9%
3%
Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015-16)
The Government of India launched the Jal Kranti Abhiyan to ensure water security by involving local communities in water conservation.
Village focus: One water-stressed village was selected from each of the country’s 672 districts to serve as a “Jal Gram.”
Pollution reduction: The initiative also focused on reducing groundwater pollution and constructing arsenic-free wells in areas facing water contamination.
Awareness: The campaign aimed to raise mass awareness through social media, television, and school-based competitions to promote water conservation efforts.
Important Note: Water management strategies under the Jal Kranti Abhiyan are designed to promote livelihood security through water security, addressing both rural and urban needs.
Watershed Development Success Story: Ralegan Siddhi
Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Maharashtra, has become a model for successful watershed development.
Transformation: The village, once plagued by poverty and illicit liquor trade, saw dramatic improvement through community-driven water conservation initiatives.
Community participation: The involvement of voluntary labor and strict local governance, including prohibitions on open grazing and water-intensive crops, played a significant role in the village’s transformation.
Lasting impact: The village continues to thrive, with high agricultural productivity and self-reliance. Its success offers valuable lessons in community-based water conservation.
Conclusion
India faces significant challenges in managing its water resources, from distribution inequalities to pollution and over-utilization. Through policies like the National Water Policy, watershed management, rainwater harvesting, and community-driven projects, the country is taking essential steps towards ensuring long-term water security.
Multiple Choice Question:
Which of the following is the highest groundwater utilization state? (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Karnataka (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Kerala Answer: (a)