Water scarcity is an issue that demands immediate action before hope, too, is lost. Drastic measures are needed on the part of Government and citizens
The English proverb ‘Forewarned is forearmed’ applies perfectly to the water shortages that are in store for much of India next year. The latest edition of Global Water Monitor & Forecast Watch List published in November, forewarns India that the New Year 2019 may bring fresh and severe water woes for the country. One can only hope that this report, coming in time as a forewarning, is able to help India develop awareness in time and forearm itself to effectively deal with the problem arising out of scarcity of one of the most precious natural resources.
According to the report, there are certain regions in India that are likely to suffer significant water shortages, in fact in a much more amplified manner than they are experiencing right now. The disturbing fact is that these developments may start unfolding in the next few months. The report particularly highlights almost certain water scarcities in Gujarat and severe to exceptional deficits from Madhya Pradesh through Karnataka, as well as in other States such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and the North-East. The report, presented by IScience — a US-based Limited Liability Corporation — quotes findings from the latest Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM) analysis of global water anomalies using observed temperature and precipitation through October 2018 and an ensemble of forecasts issued during the last week of October 2018.
ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM) monitors and forecasts water anomalies on a near global basis. WSIM methodology includes algorithms to assess the impacts of water anomalies on people, agriculture and electricity generation. WSIM has been running continuously since April 2011 and has been validated against subsequent monitoring based on observed data. Thanks to the global nature of the study, the South Asia region, too, is presented in the report and the findings are not heartening. Using three months of observed temperature and precipitation data, and nine months of forecast data, the report was able to predict that the South Asian region too is slated to encounter significant water anomalies during the one year period beginning August 2018 that will run through July 2019.
Back to India, the bad news gets worse. The report further predicts that intense deficits will persist throughout Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and along the Tungabhadra River that flows along the border between Karnataka. The forecast for the final months — from May to July 2019 — indicates primarily moderate deficits in India and pockets throughout the region. The 12-month forecast through July 2019 indicates exceptional shortages, which are greater than the 40 years of water deficit in Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. These conditions must serve as a warning enough for the Government and concerned authorities to take stock of the situation and put relevant strategies in place well before the problem strikes.
The United Nations World Water Development Report too confirmed that the water availability situation is getting worse. According to the report, 25-60 per cent of India’s renewable fresh water capacity has already been depleted. The report states that access to water, hit by successive droughts and erratic monsoons, paints a worrying picture with over nine-tenths of the country experiencing either physical or economic water stress. There is a clear divide in the water stress experienced between south India, which is physical stress due to water shortages, and the north, where access to water is limited by lack of capital and resources.
Given the alarming reports serving as timely warnings, India must extricate itself immediately from these conditions. Even satellite data showed that, thanks to increasing water problems and unabated demand, natural and man-made reservoirs too are drying up leading to more dry taps across India. To top it all, depleting groundwater table is not helping the situation at all. India uses an estimated 230 cubic km of groundwater every year. In fact, almost 70-80 per cent of the population of South Asia, including India, is dependent on groundwater for drinking and agricultural purposes. All these factors confirm one thing: 2019 is going to be anything but easy on the water availability front.
As if climate-related impact on water availability was not enough, man induced pollution, such as indiscriminate use of rivers and other surface-water bodies in many areas for disposal of sewage and industrial waste, has rendered these sources of water non-potable. To rectify the situation, time has come for the Government to declare water and its sources a national wealth. It must undertake relevant measures to secure and protect this precious wealth. Additionally, efforts on war footing are required to restore and recharge ground water. This literal ground up effort will mean a lot when the country heads into the difficult summers of 2019.
(The writer is an environmental journalist)
