In 1950, it was roughly 5,000 cubic metres. Water supply has steadily decreased for a variety of causes. The government claims that while population has an impact on water availability overall, hydro-meteorological and geological factors determine water availability on an annual average.
Source: The Indian Express
Population is only one cause, though; others include overuse of water supplies, inadequate storage, and a failure to conserve water that is already available. The nation is also plagued by widespread water contamination.
The recently issued UN World Water Development Report 2023 likewise paints a bleak picture of the availability of water. According to the report, India will be the nation most impacted by water scarcity by 2050. The nation only has 4% of the world’s water resources despite having 18% of the world’s population.
Additionally, the resources are mismanaged. There is a perception that India has abundant water resources, hence the necessity of preventing waste and practising water conservation does not receive enough attention.
Since four months account for 80% of the nation’s yearly rainfall, conservation and efficient use of resources should be given top priority. Due to increased consumption, groundwater levels are low and cannot be maintained for very long. When it comes to extracting groundwater, India leads all other nations. 90% of the water that is retrieved is used for irrigation. There is a need to move away from crops that require more water, including sugarcane and paddy. For this, appropriate policies must be drafted.
Source: Path Finder
Avoiding waste and water conservation are crucial. The majority of the water that the nation receives drains into the ocean. Plans for small- and micro-scale water conservation must be developed and widely used. Despite the fact that it is frequently discussed, rainwater harvesting is still in its early stages. It ought to develop into a populist movement. Better technologies that are suitable for India’s conditions and will fit its needs must be created, and more study is required.
India now has a storage capacity of roughly 325 billion cubic metres (BCM), but the average annual rainfall is about 3,880 BCM, according to the Central Water Commission (CWC). The storage capacity has room to grow greatly. Long-term and short-term plans are required for water management. People cannot be denied their right to life, which includes the right to water.
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