How India is governing its water resources, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• India faces a water paradox: abundant rainfall (4,000 billion cubic metres annually) but inefficient capture and usage.
• Only about 1,100 billion cubic metres of the total water availability is considered usable.
• Per capita water availability has declined from over 5,000 cubic metres post-independence to about 1,400 cubic metres.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti is the nodal agency for water resources at the national level.
• Key initiatives include the Jal Jeevan Mission (tap connections), Atal Bhujal Yojana (groundwater management), and Namami Gange Programme (river restoration).

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Detailed Insights:

• India supports 18% of the world's population with only 4% of global freshwater resources, leading to significant water stress.
• Approximately 600 million people in India face high to extreme water stress, according to the NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index.
• India is the largest groundwater user globally, accounting for about 25% of global extraction, causing water table depletion in several regions.
• Water governance in India is multi-layered, involving the Union government, State governments, and local bodies, creating coordination challenges.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap connections to all rural homes and has been extended to 2028 for universal coverage.
• The Atal Bhujal Yojana promotes community-based groundwater management in water-stressed areas to address groundwater regulation gaps.
• The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana focuses on improving irrigation efficiency through micro-irrigation technologies.
• The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation addresses urban water management by expanding water supply and wastewater treatment.
• A shift towards a circular water economy emphasises wastewater reuse, efficient irrigation, and technological innovation for sustainability.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Water Governance: The set of policies, regulations, and institutions that manage and distribute water resources.
• Sustainable Development Goal 6: A UN goal focused on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources.