Context: A new study by scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has concluded that concentration of uranium, a radioactive substance, up to 60 micrograms per litre (millionth of a gram per litre or µg/l) in drinking water was entirely safe, suggesting that the recently formulated “more stringent” national standard of 30 µg/l could be counterproductive.
What is the present status of Water resources in India?
- The country has 18 percent of the world’s population, but only 4 percent of its water resources, making it among the most water-stressed in the world.
- The average per capita water availability for 2031 has been assessed to be 1367 cubic metres.
- Around 30% of India’s freshwater is stored as groundwater, mostly in aquifers — bodies of permeable rock and sediment — below the Earth’s surface. With more than 60% of irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies dependent on it, groundwater is a vital resource.
Groundwater contamination
Discharge of toxic elements from industries and landfills and diffused sources of pollution like fertilizers and pesticides over the years has resulted in high levels of contamination of groundwater. Nitrate contamination, the presence of fluoride, iron, arsenic and heavy metals have also touched worrying levels. Geological conditions like underlying rock also lead to uranium contamination in water resources.
What are the reasons leading to high water stress in India?
There is a combination of natural as well as man made reasons:
Natural reasons:
- Rainfall variability - The Indian monsoon is highly variable and unpredictable, causing fluctuations in annual rainfall creating temporal water stresses in few regions.
- Topography – Rain shadow areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka face water scarcity as it does not receive much rainfall.
- Geology – Peninsular hard rocks make the region vulnerable to low groundwater reserves.
- Seasonal rivers dry out during low rainfall season hence leading to water stress.
- Natural disasters further can alter the availability of water resources.
Human reasons:
- Faulty agriculture and irrigation practices such as flood irrigation, lead to significant water wastage. Additionally, the cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane in water-scarce regions exacerbates the problem.
- Industrialization & urbanization is increasing the water demand and lowering the natural recharge of ground water.
- Pollution affects the water quality. Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, and untreated sewage contribute to the pollution of rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This contamination reduces the availability of potable water.
- Deforestation and land degradation reduce the ability of natural ecosystems to retain water and recharge groundwater. This leads to increased surface runoff and reduced infiltration, affecting water availability.
- Inefficient and poorly planned water management systems, including inadequate storage facilities, poor maintenance of infrastructure, and lack of effective water distribution policies, contribute to water stress.
- Disputes between states over the sharing of river waters, such as those involving the Cauvery, Krishna, and Godavari rivers, exacerbate water stress in the affected regions
- Further, now the climate change is making the problem worse. Although climate change is a natural phenomenon, human activities like greenhouse gas emissions are accelerating its impacts. This leads to more frequent and severe droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and altered hydrological cycles.
What steps the government has taken till now in this regard?
- Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 envisages construction of about 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of monsoon rainfall.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) has been launched in 2019 with the objective to improve the management of ground water resources including rainwater harvesting in water stressed areas through community participation in identified priority areas in 7 states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) includes water conservation and water harvesting structures as one of the activities under its natural resource management (NRM) component.
- 15th Finance Commission grants have been released to States to be utilized through Rural Local Bodies. Financial assistance given to various States under 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be inter alia utilized for rainwater harvesting.
What future strategy needs to be adopted?
- Water Pricing
- Effective pricing for water and power, setting up water meters, Independent regulatory authority should be established to determine water user fees.
- Promoting use of wastewater
- High priority for recycle and reuse of water. For ex. Wastewater usage can be increased in Thermal power plants.
- Increasing water use efficiency in Agriculture
- Water-efficient crops as per agro-climatic zones, focus on micro irrigation, proper maintenance of canal networks and moving towards climate smart agriculture.
- Employing nature-based solutions for sustainable water
- Rejuvenation of catchment areas, local rainwater harvesting, traditional irrigation and water conservation systems and wetland construction.
- Water governance reforms
- A National Water Commission as advised by Mihir Shah Committee should be formed, Bring water from State list to concurrent list, participatory water management by water user association and Panchayats.
- Innovative policies like promoting pani panchayats and cash transfers. E.g. In the agrarian state of Punjab, where rampant tubewell irrigation is causing the water table to fall drastically, the Bank helped the state government pilot an innovative scheme to conserve groundwater. The “Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao” (Save Water, Earn Money) scheme incentivizes farmers to reduce groundwater usage. Around 300 enrolled farmers were given cash incentives to save electricity used for irrigation, resulting in water savings of between 6 and 25 percent without any adverse effect on the yield.