Context:
This editorial is based on the news “ Securing India’s water future – Opinion News” which was published in the Financial Express. Inadequate rainfall, dwindling Cauvery levels and depleting borewells have culminated into Bengaluru facing a severe water crisis.
Issue of Water Crisis in India:
- Concerns especially in Bengaluru: Inadequate rainfall, Mismanagement of water bodies in the city and non availability as well as high costs of water tankers.
- Depletion of borewells exacerbates the situation due to groundwater overuse and overexploitation.
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Status of ‘Water’ in India:
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- India is home to 17.6% of the world’s population but has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources.
- According to the Water Quality Index, India ranks 120th out of 122 countries assessed.
- 70% of water is contaminated with Arsenic, Fluoride, iron, Nitrate etc.
- The sewage and water infrastructure has not been able to keep up with rapid construction activities and development of the cities.
- The Niti Aayog report on water crisis (2018) suggests that currently, 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.
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Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Crucial Scheme to Increase water accessibility
- Jal Jeevan Mission is an Umbrella scheme of the central government to provide access to tap water in rural India.
- Budget allocation for 2023-2024: The Government has allocated 70,000 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, while the Interim Budget for 2024-25 has announced 70,163 crore for the same.
- Achievements: Jal Jeevan Mission having successfully provided tap water connections to 142.5 million rural households (almost 74%) of a total of 192.6 million till date, as per government data.
Challenges Within Jal Jeevan Mission
- Budget and Implementation challenges in some states.
- Operation and maintenance (O&M) of the infrastructure being created under the programmes: taps and pipes will eventually break and will need repairs.
- Ensuring that water flows continuously through these taps: India will achieve universal coverage at some point, the concern will shift towards ensuring that water flows continuously through these taps.
- Depleting Groundwater reservoirs: groundwater that supplies water for most of these schemes may dry up or get contaminated.
Features of Jal Jeevan Mission
- Encouraging community engagement: A decentralised, community-based approach is needed for local ownership and sustainable management of water for ensuring sustainable and equitable access to services.
- Funding Pattern Under Jal Jeevan Mission: JJM asks the local communities to contribute 5-10% of the total capital cost towards the water supply infrastructure in the village, depending on the terrain and the social demographics to emphasise and encourage a sense of community ownership.
- Jal Bandhus: Training water user committees and developing a network of ‘Jalabandhu’ mobile mechanics has already proven to be effective in maintaining and repairing water points across the country.
- Art as a medium of spreading Awareness: Art and theatre can be used to promote safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. The school children should be encouraged to participate in community-level awareness initiatives and take ownership of water and sanitation facilities.
Solutions to Mitigate Water Crisis in India
- Managing access to groundwater: as a common pool resource for fair and transparent allocations for multiple uses.
- Preserving freshwater ecosystems is crucial for maintaining the water balance and supporting biodiversity: Rejuvenation of water bodies and afforestation around catchment areas can enhance water availability and quality.
- Private Sector involvement: The private sector can play an important role for providing these services under a common standards framework.
- Collective and collaborative onus: Simple precautions such as disposing chemicals safely; using fertilisers judiciously; turning off taps after use; checking for leaky taps and getting them fixed; and acquiring and spreading water education are significant.
Also Read: State Of Global Water Resources Report 2022
| Prelims PYQ (2020):
Consider the following statements:
1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Ans: (b) |
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March 9, 2024
