Indian cities need to rethink water future, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Indian cities are experiencing severe water shortages, aggravated by heatwaves, groundwater depletion, and falling reservoir levels.
• The NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (2018) previously warned that cities were exceeding their hydrological capacities.
• Urban water inefficiency is largely due to dilapidated distribution networks, inadequate metering, and poor municipal governance.
• The Mihir Shah Committee (2016) highlighted a historical policy focus on augmenting water supply rather than managing demand.
• There is a critical need to adopt nature-based solutions and comprehensive policies, similar to China’s Sponge City project, for sustainable water management.

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Detailed Insights:

• The current water crisis is exacerbated by climate change, leading to increased evaporation, but structural issues are the primary drivers.
• The Jal Shakti Ministry’s Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment has also indicated the oversaturation of aquifers.
• Municipal and state authorities often fail to address the underlying structural causes of water scarcity, treating crises as isolated events.
• Lack of proper water metering and inefficient municipal governance significantly contribute to urban water wastage.
• The Atal Bhujal Yojana is an initiative focused on promoting efficient water use, particularly within the agricultural sector.
• Effective demand-side management requires scientific analysis of water consumption at both household and industrial levels to prevent over-exploitation.
• Nature-based solutions, such as lake restoration projects, must be implemented at a larger scale to achieve meaningful impact.
• China’s Sponge City project integrates urban landscapes and green infrastructure, including permeable pavements, for natural rainwater retention.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Composite Water Management Index (CWMI): An index developed by NITI Aayog to assess and improve water management practices across Indian states.
• Demand-side management: Strategies and policies aimed at influencing water consumption patterns to reduce overall demand and promote efficient use.
• Nature-based solutions: Sustainable management and restoration of natural ecosystems to address societal challenges like water scarcity.
• Sponge City project: An urban planning concept from China that uses green infrastructure to absorb, store, and purify rainwater.