India's annual per capita water availability is projected to drop from about 1,500 cubic meters to below 1,200 cubic meters by 2050, the water scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic meter.
Factors for Water Crisis
- Demand-Supply Imbalance: India’s water demand will double available supply by 2030 (NITI Aayog), while groundwater depletion could triple by 2041–2080.
- Agricultural Over-Extraction: Particularly paddy cultivation in Punjab and Haryana has led to drastic declines in water tables.
- Pollution of water bodies: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that more than 350 river stretches in the country are polluted.
- Climate Change: Erratic monsoons and increased frequency of floods and droughts have reduced water accessibility and availability.
Strategies for Achieving Water Resilience
- Adopt National Circular Water Mission: To transition from "use-and-dispose" to a circular model, focusing on four key pillars:
- Technology: Building decentralized fecal sludge treatment plants in expanding peri-urban areas.
- Institutions: Empowering urban local bodies to create special-purpose vehicles that run reuse projects as businesses.
- Finance: Introducing market-based pricing, and preserving targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups.
- Behaviour: Using behavioral nudges to normalize the public's everyday use of treated water.
- City-Specific Reuse Plans: Eg: Delhi/Bengaluru can prioritize peri-urban farming, Chennai can focus on lake rejuvenation, and Surat can target industrial use.
