CHALLENGES IN WATER UTILIZATION

The grave scenario

At a global level 70% Of Water Is Used For Agriculture about 25% For Industry And Only 5% For Domestic Use. However this varies in different countries and industrialized countries use a greater percentage for industry. India uses 90% for agriculture, 7% for industry and 3% for domestic use. One of the greatest challenges facing the world in this century is the need to rethink the overall management of water resources.

India is expected to face critical levels of water stress by 2025. At the global level 31 countries are already short of water and by 2025 there will be 48 countries facing serious water short- ages. The UN has estimated that by the year 2050, 4 billion people will be seriously affected by water shortages. This will lead to multiple conflicts between countries over the sharing of water. Around 20 major cities in India face chronic or interrupted water shortages.

According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people.

However, 12% of India’s population is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, due to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system and years of deficient rains.

The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual six per cent loss in the country’s GDP.

Problems related to water overexploitation and mismanagement

1. Water scarcity
2. Water contamination
3. Groundwater depletion
4. Groundwater contamination
5. River water pollution
6. Lake eutrophication
7. River siltation
8. Communicable diseases
9. Agricultural fields salinity
10. Inter –state water disputes
11. Water wars
12. Zero days in urban areas
13. Urban flooding
14. Droughts
15. Agricultural and rural distress