NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) — India is facing its worst ever water crisis so far in its history, warned a report prepared by Indian government’s ace thinktank and policy adviser the National Institution for Transforming India, or NITI Aayog, on Friday.
Currently 600 million Indians face "high to extreme" water shortage and about 200,000 people die every year due to inadequate access to potable water, the report said.
The water crisis will get worse as the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply by 2030, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 percent loss in the country’s GDP, it added.
Titled "Composite Water Management Index," the report was prepared by the "NITI Aayog" in association with the country’s Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Rural Development.
NITI Aayog is India’s premier policy thinktank providing both directional and policy inputs to the government.
While designing strategic and long term policies and programmes for the government, it also provides relevant technical advice to the center and states.
The report further stated that as many as 21 major cities in the country are most likely to run out of groundwater by 2020, thereby affecting nearly 100 million people.
The low performing states are mainly the populous ones like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, among others.
These states are home to over 600 million people, and account for 20-30 percent of the country’s agricultural output.
"Thus, there is an imminent need to deepen our understanding of our water resources and usage and put in place interventions that make our water use efficient and sustainable," said the report.

According to a report from the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, global warming will make vegetables significantly more scarce all over the world, unless producers adopt new practices and resistant crop varieties.
"Our study shows that environmental changes, such as increased temperature and water scarcity, can pose a real threat to world agricultural production and have a great impact on food security and the health of the population," said researcher Pauline Scheelbeek, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The report also points out that by the end of this century the combination of less water and hot air will reduce vegetable harvests, which are crucial for a healthy diet, by almost a third.
In addition, crops would decrease by an average of 31.5% if there is a 4 degrees Celsius increase in temperature, which scientists expect by 2100 if global warming continues its current trajectory.
This could especially affect Southern Europe, large regions of Africa, and South Asia.
The findings are supported by a systematic review of 174 studies that evaluate the effect of environmental exposures on crops and the nutritional content of vegetables and legumes since 1975.
"We found that as the planet heats up, it becomes more likely that different countries will simultaneously experience large crop losses, which has major implications for food prices and food security," Scheelbeek said.
"The report warns that, if temperatures rise by 4 degrees Celsius, which would happen by the end of the century if the current rates of greenhouse gas emissions continue, there is an 86% chance that the four countries that export corn suffer a bad year simultaneously."
The vast majority of world corn exports come from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine, according to the report.
Source: rpp.pe with information from Agencia AFP Other news in this sector:

Bathinda Bathinda, June 10 The protest by city residents over water scarcity has led the Irrigation Department to take the decision of releasing water in the Sirhind canal on Monday, instead of June 20.
It is learnt that the canal was closed so that farmers could not plant paddy in the fields before June 20 in the region.
If water is released in the canal on Monday, it will reach here by June 15.
Irrigation Department official Gurmail Singh said, “We had earlier issued a letter to Triveni Company stating that the canal would be closed for maintenance work till June 20, but now we will again issue a letter to the start the flow of water in the canal on Monday.
It will take four days to reach the city.” The Sirhind canal closure in this peak summer season led to protests by residents.
The civic body and the Water Supply Department are flooded with the complaints.
Due to the closure, residents in various areas of the city complained of erratic water supply and were irked that water scarcity had badly affected the day-to-day work.
They questioned the timing of the canal’s maintenance work.
They said in the summer season, the demand for water increased but the authorities decide to close the canal at this time.
Scarcity affectsday-to-day work Due to the canal closure, residents in various areas of the city complained of erratic water supply and were irked that water scarcity had badly affected the day-to-day work.

20 residents protest against Water Supply Dept, civic body Sukhmeet Bhasin Bathinda, June 9 After the Sirhind canal closure, residents in various areas of the city on Saturday complained of erratic water supply.
The authorities have closed the canal till June 20 due to maintenance work.
Darshan Kumar Billu, councillor from Ward No.
20, said, “I have apprised the SDO of the Water Supply Department of the problems being faced by residents.
Residents of Sarabha Nagar, Basant Vihar Nagar, Harpal Nagar and Aggarwal Colony have also been facing water shortage.
42, said, “The water supply to Partap Nagar has been affected due to the Sirhind canal closure.
I have lodged a complaint with the SDO of the Water Supply Department, but to no avail.” Raja Singh, councillor from Ward No.
The erratic water supply has affected their day-to-day work.” Residents have questioned the timing of the canal’s maintenance work.
Ravi Kumar, SDO, Water Supply Department, said there was no water shortage in the city.
Residents of low-lying areas were facing some problems, he added.

Lauding the efforts of a woman truck driver Jaswar Kaur for her efforts in ensuring smooth water supply in Shimla, Governor Acharaya Devvrat felicitated her here on Saturday.
The Governor presented Jaswar Kaur, who hails from Sangruru, a memento at Raj Bhawan.
The Governor said, “ She has not only driven the water tank in difficult geographical conditions and hilly roads of the state but has also set an example in society by contributing in the noble cause of providing water.” She has become an ideal for others, he added.
An official spokesperson said in the view of water scarcity and an appeal by Governor, Sai Engineering foundation with the support of Maha Panchayat Haryana played an important role in ensuring smooth water supply in the city.
Sai Foundation provided approximately 27 water tanks to lift water from Satluj to Gumma water storage tank free of cost.
The people were provided with approximately 10 lakh litres water per day, he said.
Almost 18 kilometres distance was covered from Satluj to fill up the water storage tank at Gumma by each tanker, he added.
Jaswir Kaur provided water to people through 27 water tanks of Sai Engineering foundation.
The convener of Maha Panchayat Haryana Sampuran Singh said the Maha Panchayat has decided to adopt Jaswir Kaur’s son and will provide for his educational expenses.
The Governor also honoured Lakkha Singh, husband of Jaswir Kaur, on the occasion.

Due to alleged mismanagement of the PHE department, the water crisis has deepened in various villages of the district, including PDC colony Wassar Kishtwar, upper Pochhal and Sanghrambhata, forcing the people to come out on streets and lodge protest in support of their demands.
The residents of PDC colony Wassar alleged that the concerned department has been supplying drinking water on discriminatory basis.
“The concerned department is not giving heed to our grievances regarding scarcity of water.
Despite frequent requests to the officials of the department, no relief has been provided till date,” they alleged.
The residents also accused the department of supplying water arbitrarily.
“The employees at PHE supply water as per their own will, especially to the villages having some political influence,” villagers alleged, while adding that the department has not repaired the existing supply lines.
They appealed to the District Development Commissioner Kishtwar to keep a vigil on illegal connections of water supply and demand regular supply to their areas.
Continuing their efforts to ensure that consumers get essential commodities as per rate list and in hygienic conditions during the holy month of Ramadhan and to implement the ban on plastic bags, Tehsildar Bhaderwah Masood Ahmed along with Municipal inspectors, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) officers and police launched a crackdown in the Bhaderwah market on chicken shops, butcheries, vegetables shops, grocery dealers and sweet shops on Friday.

The Irrigation Department has closed the canal till June 20, due to which the Water Supply Department has cut 20 per cent of the daily supply to the city.
However, Water Supply Department SDO Ravi Kumar said, “We have stored water in tanks to provide water supply to the city for the next 10 days.
I appeal to the city residents to use water judiciously during this period.” During the closure, the MCB is also conducting cleaning of the 1.5 MGD water treatment plant located at Growth Centre, due to which there is water problem in some areas.
However, the MCB is claiming that in areas where the supply has been hit are being provided water through tankers.
The Water Supply Department has stopped the afternoon supply in many areas.
However, these days, nine million gallon water is being supplied due to the canal closure.
The afternoon water supply to Growth Centre and Mansa road areas has been stopped.
Water provided through tankers The Water Supply Department has cut 20 per cent of the daily supply to the city.
During the closure, the MCB is also conducting cleaning of the 1.5 MGD water treatment plant located at Growth Centre, due to which there is water problem in some areas.
The MCB claims that in areas where the supply has been hit are being provided water through tankers.

Ludhiana People in Ward No.
Residents of Bal Singh Nagar are suffering after tube well in their area developed snag a few days ago.
“The water was supplied through tankers after tube well developed snag around four days ago.
The councillor of Ward No.
86, Ashwani Kumar said, “There is no problem of water scarcity at Bal Singh Nagar as water is supplied through other tubewells.
14 are battling with shortage of water supply.
Meanwhile, residents of New Bagh Nagar, New Preet Nagar and adjoining areas have reportedly complained of the low water supply.
The Municipal Corporation Superintending Engineer, Rajinder Singh said, “Water is supplied through other tubewells in areas where these are not functioning.
There is no problem of water scarcity in the city.” The Municipal Corporation Superintending Engineer, Ravinder Garg said, “We have also floated tenders for installation of new tubewells in place of those, which are beyond any repairs.” Areas where tubewells are not functional Grewal Colony, Subash Nagar, LIG flats in Ward No.
24, Sector 38, near Veer Palace, Gurpreet Nagar, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar on Barota Road, Kabir Nagar, Nanakpuri, Satguru Nagar, Fateh Singh Nagar, Mahavir Jain Colony, Indra Nagar and Jawahar Nagar during past few months.

Srinagar Residents of Kawoosa Magam, in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Saturday, held a protest demonstration against the water shortage in the area.
Scores of the residents including men, women and children gathered at Narbal-Gulmarg road in Kawoosa shouting anti-administration and anti-governmental slogans protested against the water scarcity faced by them.
Due to this the traffic movement was also hampered for hours.
The residents demanded that authorities must take measures to end the water shortage faced by locals for the past several years.
They accused that the government has turned a blind eye towards their plight and a shortage of water has caused great inconvenience to them in this holy month of Ramadhan.
“It has been a very long time since taps are running dry but nobody is paying any heed to our problem.
We approached several times to the authorities concerned, but to no avail,” said one of the protestor.
Locals accuse the concerned department of failing to get a new water pipeline for the village.
“We get water from tube wells and contaminated Sukhnag River, which is unfit for drinking as it contains high iron content,” said another protestor.

The owners of tube wells are acquiring water for free and selling to residents of the federal capital and Rawalpindi, which is causing the shortage, remarked Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Friday.
Islamabad, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 8th Jun, 2018) : The owners of tube wells are acquiring water for free and selling to residents of the federal capital and Rawalpindi, which is causing the shortage, remarked Chief Justice of pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Friday.
During the hearing on suo motu notice over water scarcity, eight alleged owners of tube wells, additional attorney general and officials from the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad were present in the court.
One of the suspects, Zamrud Khan, told the court he did not own one but said the entire Cantonment was full of tube wells as the area was faced with sever water crisis.
He requested the court to issue orders for supply of water through alternate sources before the tube wells are closed down as Cantonment Board and Capital Development Authority were not cooperating with each other over the issue.
To this, the chief justice remarked that water shortage was mainly being caused by the owners of tube wells.
A representative of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, who was present in the court, said they would impose taxes on the use of tube wells.
When asked how many days the authority would take to levy the tax, the representative sought 15 days.
The chief justice sought details on tube wells from CDA, Cantonment Board and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad.
He also ordered reply on the issue from the executive office of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and managing director of Water and Sanitation Authority within 10 days.