India’s Water Crisis
Source: Down To Earth
GS III: Environment and Conservation
Overview
- News in Brief
- Depth of the water crisis
- How India is fighting Water crisis?
- What are Quick-fix Water Solutions?
Why in News ?
By 2030, the UN wanted to make sure that everyone has access to clean water and sanitary facilities.
- 20% of rural Indians still without access to drinkable water with seven years left until the deadline.
Depth of the water crisis
- With only 4% of the world’s water resources and over 20% of the world’s population.
- This make India is one of the most water-stressed nations in the world.
- Unpredictable climate conditions causes the agriculture nore vulnerable as farmers and agriculture sector, which use almost 90% of India’s water supply.
- This causes land Infertile.
How India is fighting Water crisis?
Amrit Sarovar Mission
- Launched on April 24, 2022, the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festival.
- It will include the development and revitalization of 75 water bodies in each district as part of the Amrit Sarovar Mission.
- The goal of the mission is to increase water quality and storage in nearby bodies of water,
- It will help to enhance water availability and ecosystem health.
National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM)
- Used by the Central Ground Water Board to map the nation’s 25.15 lakh sq km of aquifers.
- States and UTs are given access to the research findings and management plans to enable well-informed actions.
Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020
- The Master Plan, which was created in partnership with States and UTs, calls for the development of 1.42 crore artificial recharge and rain water harvesting facilities.
- The strategy calls for 185 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water to be captured, while also encouraging water conservation and recharging.
Atal Bhujal Yojana
- World Bank is helping the supporting the government’s national groundwater program.
- This scheme targets certain water-stressed areas in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Manage demand for groundwater through scientific means, involving local communities for sustainable groundwater management.
Besides state governments also started various project
- Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao – Punjab
- Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
- . Jalanidhi I and Jalanidhi II – Kerala
- Karnataka Water Supply Improvement Project
- Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Service Delivery Reform Project
What are Quick-fix Water Solutions?
- Quick-fix water solutions are defined as rapid and frequently transient actions used to solve water-related problems.
- Particularly in areas experiencing water scarcity or difficulties managing water resources.
- Some quick fix are
- Targeted river widening, deepening and straightening of river.
- Water Cups incentivise Maharashtra villages to harvest water for drought-proofing the state.
- Planting trees along the banks to rejuvenate rivers.
- Watershed-based development involves management of land and vegetation to conserve the quality and supply of water.
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