Water Security Final

Water security in India: A bigger Challenge:
India, a centuries-old civilisation has originated and flourished on the banks of the sacred rivers
of Indus and Sarasvati. The importance of water conservation and management was often
highlighted in the ancient texts. The Indus River is the longest river stretching to 2900 Km
followed by Brahmaputra, Ganga, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Kaveri. Due to
the rapid rise in population and growing economy of the country, there will be a continuous
increase in demand for water, and it will become scarce in the coming decades. Water scarcity is
already visible with the current population size of 1.3 billion which is projected to be increased
to 1.6 billion by 2050. India consists of 16 per cent of the world's population but only 4 per cent
of the world's water resources.
The total annual water available from precipitation in India is about 4,000 cubic Km. However,
there exist considerable spatial and temporal variations in the distribution of rainfall and hence in
the availability of water in time and space across the country. It is estimated that out of the 4,000
cubic km of water, 1869 cubic km is the Average annual potential flow in rivers available as a
water resource. Out of this total available water resource, only 1123 cubic km is utilizable (690
cubic km from surface water resources and 433 cubic km from groundwater resources). The
water demand in the year 2000 was 634 cubic km and it is likely to be 1093 cubic km by the year
2025. The 2018 Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2.0, report prepared by NITI
Aayog indicated that more than 600 million people are facing acute water stress in India. The
report also indicated that, by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the
available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people which lead to
a 6 % loss in India's GDP. We need to have a sharp focus on tackling the water crisis in the
interest of all citizens of our country. The report indicated that 21 major cities including Delhi,
Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2021,
affecting access for over 100 million people.
Steps Taken for Effective Water Management and Promoting Water Security:
Jal Jeevan Mission: It is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through
individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: It was launched in 2019; a time-bound campaign with a mission mode
approach intended to improve water availability including groundwater conditions in the water-
stressed blocks of 256 districts in India.
National Water Policy: National Water Policy (2012) advocated rainwater harvesting and
conservation of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through
direct use of rainfall.
Groundwater legislation: The Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to
enable them to enact suitable groundwater legislation for the regulation of its development,
which also includes the provision of rainwater harvesting.
Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA): It has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the
"Environment (Protection) Act, 1986" for regulation and control of groundwater development
and management in the Country. • National Water Awards: The Department of Water Resources,
RD& GR has instituted National Water awards to incentivize good practices in water
conservation and groundwater recharge.
Mass awareness programmes: Training, Seminars, Workshops, Exhibitions, Trade Fares

Painting Competitions etc. are conducted from time to time each year under the Information,
Education & Communication (IEC) Scheme of DoWR, RD & GR in various parts of the Country
to promote rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): It is a Rs.6000 crore scheme with World Bank funding, for
sustainable management of groundwater with community participation being taken up in the
identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Water security is of paramount
importance to ensure reliable access to clean water in adequate quantity to the entire population
in India. We should move towards a more sustainable approach to conserve water. An individual
citizen should take every possible step to conserve water, which is a precious natural resource.
"Gracious be divine waters for our protection, be there for our drink, and stream on us
bliss and happiness". Rig Veda.
Janvi Parihar
4th Semester B.A LL.B 5 year (Student)

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Water Security Final

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Water security in India: A bigger Challenge:

Mass awareness programmes: Training, Seminars, Workshops, Exhibitions, Trade Fares

4th Semester B.A LL.B 5 year (Student)

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