It’s a ticking time bomb.
The latest report by the Niti Aayog on water scarcity in the country makes a depressing reading.
By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for millions of people and an eventual 6% loss in the country’s GDP.
With nearly 70% of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120 among 122 countries in the water quality index.
Groundwater is getting depleted at unsustainable rates.
The augmentation of watersheds that can store more groundwater for agricultural use and other purposes and strict enforcement of pollution control measures are the two key areas that require urgent attention.
The Water Index scores, which have been put together on the basis of 28 indicators including groundwater, restoration of water bodies, irrigation, and drinking water, are below 50% in most States.
As many as 15 of the 24 States studied are categorised as low performers.
There is a need for adopting a user-centric approach to water management, especially in agriculture.
Rapid adoption of technologies that help conserve, treat and reuse water is the need of the hour.