| Water
The problems of drinking water are mainly in areas of availability,
adequacy, potability, convenience, affordability, sustainability
and quality. The government role in provision of rural drinking
water started in 1972-73 with Accelerated Rural Water Supply Program.
The second phase of water supply started with Rajiv Gandhi National
Drinking Water Mission in 1986-87. The third phase started with
planning, implementation and management of drinking water schemes,
scaled up as Swajaldhara in 2002. The Rural Water Supply (RWS) sector
has now entered the fourth phase with major emphasis on ensuring
sustainability of water availability in terms of potability, adequacy,
convenience, affordability and equity while also adopting decentralized
approach involving Panchayat Raj Institutions and community organizations.
Adequate flexibility is afforded to the States/UTs to incorporate
the principles of decentralized, demand driven, area specific strategy
taking into account all aspects of the sustainability of the source,
system, finance and management of the drinking water supply infrastructure.
Adoption of appropriate technology, revival of traditional systems,
conjunctive use of surface and ground water, conservation, rain
water harvesting and recharging of drinking water sources have been
emphasized in the new approach.
Challenges
The challenges in area of drinking water are
1. Sustainability of drinking water and adequate availability of
drinking water
2. Quality of drinking water and excessive withdrawals
3. Contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic.
4. Pollutants such as pesticides and insecticides.
5. Biological pollution due to open defecation
Wate : Key concerns
Availability of drinking Water
Quality of drinking Water
Absence of system for collecting and treating waste water
Diminishing Resources
Drainage from mines, industrial waste, drainage from the residue
of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides
Partially treated and untreated sewage water, industrial discharges
Inadequate sanitation facilities
Degradation of water resources
Contamination of water / illegal connections
Leakage from oil storage tanks, Mines
Health effects of exposure to various chemicals in drinking water
Release of heavy metal such as lead, mercury, silver and chromium
- which are highly toxic to aquatic life
Water Availability in India
Annual Precipitation (including snowfall) : 4000 Cubic Km
Average Annual Availability : 1869 Cubic Km
Per CapitaWater Availability (2001) in cubic metres : 1820
Estimated Utilizable Water Resources : 1122 Cubic Km
(i) Surface Water Resources : 690 Cubic Km
(ii) Ground Water Resources : 431 Cubic Km
Water
From the East to the West and from the North to the South,
water has defined life in the Indian subcontinent for thousands
of years. On an average, the combination of rainfall, surface and
groundwater resources have been sufficient for providing adequate
water to the Indian population.
Rise in demand and development pressures are changing the scenario
of water availability in India. Erosion in the watersheds due to
rapid development and poor land management practices is increasing
siltation and changing stream hydraulics. Groundwater reserves are
becoming more and more depleted even as surface water sources become
too polluted for human use. Biodiversity in the country's once extensive
wetlands and coastal mangroves is fast declining. To add to this,
current socioeconomic activities and economic incentives are encouraging
the unsustainable consumption of this resource.
The realization that India's water resources need to be more
carefully managed, is leading to the adoption of sustainable
water management practices. By managing its water more judiciously,
India can avert the crisis that looms large over the future.
Surface Water
India is blessed with many rivers. Twelve major river systems drain
the subcontinent along with a number of smaller rivers and streams
and form a total catchment area of approximately 252.8 Mha. Of the
major rivers, the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system is the biggest,
with a combined catchment area of about 110 Mha. which is more than
43 per cent of the catchment area of all the major rivers in the
country. Other major rivers with a catchment area of more than 10
Mha. are Indus (32.1 Mha.), Godavari (31.3 Mha.), Krishna, (25.9
Mha.) and Mahanadi (14.2 Mha.).
Over 70 per cent of India's rivers drain in the Bay of Bengal, mostly
as a part of the Ganga-Brahmaputra system. The Arabian Sea, on the
western side of the country, receives 20 per cent of the total drainage
from the Indus system as well as from a number of smaller rivers
down the western coast. The remaining ten per cent drain into the
interior basins and few natural lakes scattered across the country.
Groundwater
Groundwater represents one of the most important water sources in
India. Total replenishable groundwater potential of the country
has been estimated by the Ministry of Water Resources as 431 Km3
per year (Table 2.3.1). Excluding the water reserved for drinking,
industrial and other purposes (other than irrigation), which is
about 16 per cent of the total potential, the potential available
for irrigation is 360 Km3 per year. The figure for net draft of
groundwater considering the present utilization indicates that a
substantial portion of the total potential (about 68 per cent) still
remains untapped.
Water Demand
Access to adequate water is one of the leading factors limiting
development in India. Agricultural, industrial and domestic uses
are competing more and more for a limited supply. The agricultural
sector continues to dominate water use owing to its continued importance
to the Indian economy, while industrial demands are increasing as
the sector continues to grow. Domestic needs claim only a small
portion of the annual water withdrawals as access to adequate water
and sanitation supplies remains low throughout the country. Greater
access and an improvement in the socio-economic situation is likely
to result in a higher demand for water in the coming years, in rural
India.
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Water is crucial for preserving biodiversity in all environments—from
freshwater lakes and rivers to mountain regions, wetlands, estuaries,
coastal zones and oceans. The International Decade for Action: “Water
for Life” 2005-2015 provides an opportunity for increased
cooperation to protect this vital resource for the future of Earth’s
diverse ecosystems.
The challenge
Increasing demand for water is exerting severe pressure on our environment.
Freshwater ecosystems are in crisis globally, with many rivers and
lakes already polluted or severely degraded as a result of diminishing
natural ecosystems, such as forests and watersheds. High levels
of discharge of heavy metals and hazardous wastes from industry
and agriculture are resulting in increased groundwater contamination
and depletion.
The decline in the quantity and quality of water resources is causing
extinction of freshwater species and a severe loss of biodiversity.
Coastal zones, the most productive ecosystems on Earth, are particularly
vulnerable becasue of the decline in rivers as they move towards
the sea, threatening human and animal life and entire ecosystems.
Some 4 out of every 10 people live within 100 kilometres of a coast.
However, some 30 per cent of land in the world’s coastal ecosystems
has been extensively degraded by growing demands for housing, industry
and recreation. In recent decades, increasing pollution from inland,
along with loss of coastal habitats that filter pollution, has led
to extensive “dead zones” where fish are unable to survive,
such as in the Gulf of Mexico.
More than half of humanity relies on the freshwater that accumulates
in mountain regions. Yet these areas are under pressure from deforestation,
agriculture and tourism, which can place unsustainable demands on
water resources.
What needs to be done?
In poor nations, degradation of water resources is generally caused
by poverty, as short-term survival supersedes long-term resource
protection. In more developed countries, degradation of water ecosystems
is more often the result of unsustainable consumption patterns.
During the “Water for Life” Decade and beyond, the various
causes of environmental degradation need to be addressed, and freshwater
ecosystems conserved and restored to ensure sustainable water resources
for the future.
Recommendations for action include
Awareness-raising and involvement of communities in decision-making
on issues of conservation and management.
Recognition of the true value of environmental resources. Applying
quantitative and qualitative measures to ecosystem goods and services
demonstrates their value in real economic terms. People can then
truly appreciate the benefits of protecting natural resources and
endangered species.
Integrated planning and management of land and water use within
a broader ecosystem context.
Utilization of environmental impact assessments to measure the
benefits of conservation against the costs of other developments.
Use of financial and other incentives or disincentives, such as
“the polluter pays principle”, can promote conservation
and discourage degradation.
Cooperation across borders. International watercourses can serve
as incentives for peaceful cooperation among States and catalysts
for sustainable development.
Effective implementation and enforcement of international agreements
that aim to protect ecosystems, such as the Convention on Biodiversity
and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands..
Source
The average annual water availability of the country is assessed
as 1869 billion cubic metres (BCM). Of this, total utilizable water
resource is assessed as 1123 BCM, surface water 690 BCM and ground
water as 433 BCM.
Ministry
The Ministry of Water Resources lays down policies and programmes
for development and regulation of the country’s water resources.
It covers sectoral planning, coordination, policy guidelines, technical
examination and techno-economic appraisal of projects, providing
central assistance to specific projects, facilitation of external
assistance and assistance in the resolution of inter-state water
disputes, policy formulation, planning and guidance in respect of
minor irrigation, command area development and development of ground
water resources, etc.
The National Water Policy, 2002 lays emphasis on the integrated
water resources development and management for optimal and sustainable
utilization of the available surface and groundwater; creation of
well-developed information system; water conservation and demand
management; quantity and quality aspects as well as environmental
considerations; involvement of beneficiaries and stakeholders in
the project planning and participatory approach in water resources
management; adequate training and research; resettlement & rehabilitation
aspects of project affected persons. The Policy also encourage Private
Sector Participation in placing development and management of water
resources project for diverse uses, wherever feasible with a view
to introducing innovative ides generating financial resources and
introducing corporate management and improving service efficiency
and accountability to users.
Visit the government portal for accurate and uptodate information
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