🌊 Water Resources
🌟 Importance and Availability of Water Resources
🔵 Water is a renewable natural resource that plays a critical role in sustaining life, agriculture, industry, and ecosystems.
🔴 India receives precipitation of about 4000 cubic km annually, but only 1122 cubic km is available for use due to topographical and spatial variation.
🟢 Out of the total water resources in India, surface water and groundwater are the two main sources.
🟣 India has a monsoon-dependent water system, meaning rainfall is uneven and seasonal.
🟡 The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin has high water availability, while regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat face severe water scarcity.
🔵 Freshwater is extremely limited — only 2.5% of all water on Earth is fresh, and only 0.3% is accessible in rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
🔴 Water is essential for drinking, sanitation, irrigation, hydroelectricity, industries, fisheries, and recreation.
🟢 A growing population, urbanization, and industrialization are putting immense pressure on water resources.
🟣 The groundwater table is depleting due to over-extraction for agriculture and urban uses.
🟡 India ranks among the top in the world in terms of groundwater usage.
🔵 Irrigation consumes over 90% of total water used in India, making agriculture the largest water-consuming sector.
🔴 With increasing water stress, water conservation has become a national priority.
💧 Water Scarcity and the Need for Conservation
🟢 Water scarcity refers to a situation where demand for water exceeds the available supply.
🟣 Causes of water scarcity include overuse, unequal access, pollution, and climate change.
🟡 Over-irrigation in agriculture, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana, has led to waterlogging and salinization.
🔵 The green revolution caused excessive use of water in wheat and paddy cultivation, worsening the water crisis.
🔴 Industrial waste and urban sewage discharge are major causes of water pollution.
🟢 Aquifers (underground water storage) are rapidly depleting due to unregulated borewells.
🟣 Climate change is affecting monsoon patterns, causing droughts and floods.
🟡 The urban lifestyle is highly water-intensive, contributing to increased domestic consumption.
🔵 Lack of effective water management is worsening the crisis in both rural and urban areas.
🔴 Water scarcity can lead to conflicts between states and communities over sharing water from rivers and reservoirs.
🟢 Equitable distribution of water through efficient management is the need of the hour.
🟣 Rainwater harvesting, watershed development, and water recycling are key sustainable practices.
🚜 Water Resources and Irrigation
🔵 Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land for agriculture.
🔴 India’s agriculture is heavily dependent on irrigation due to uneven and erratic rainfall.
🟢 There are three main types of irrigation in India:
- Surface Irrigation (Canals, Tanks)
- Subsurface Irrigation (Wells, Tube wells)
- Modern Irrigation Methods (Sprinkler, Drip)
🟣 Canal irrigation is common in the northern plains but involves high evaporation loss.
🟡 Tube wells and borewells are widely used in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
🔵 Drip irrigation is water-efficient and ideal for arid regions like Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
🔴 The government promotes micro-irrigation projects under schemes like PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana).
🟢 The Green Revolution regions continue to have the highest irrigation intensity.
🟣 Traditional irrigation systems like kulhs (Himachal), ahars (Bihar), tanks (South India) are sustainable and community-managed.
🟡 Inefficient irrigation has led to low water productivity, and there is a growing shift towards “More Crop per Drop”.
🏞️ Multipurpose River Valley Projects
🔵 Multipurpose projects serve multiple goals: irrigation, hydroelectricity, flood control, drinking water, navigation, and tourism.
🔴 Notable examples include:
- Bhakra Nangal Dam (Satluj River)
- Hirakud Dam (Mahanadi River)
- Tehri Dam (Bhagirathi River)
- Sardar Sarovar Dam (Narmada River)
- Mettur Dam (Kaveri River)
🟢 These projects are often called “temples of modern India” by Jawaharlal Nehru.
🟣 Hydroelectricity is a clean, renewable source of energy.
🟡 Large dams store water for irrigation during dry seasons and control floods during monsoon.
🔵 Multipurpose projects can also lead to displacement of people, loss of biodiversity, and submergence of forests.
🔴 The Narmada Bachao Andolan, led by Medha Patkar, raised awareness about the social impact of large dams.
🟢 There is increasing criticism of large dams due to ecological damage and displacement.
🟣 The focus is shifting toward small, decentralized water projects that are eco-friendly and participatory.
🟡 River valley projects must be planned with environmental, social, and sustainability assessments.
🌧️ Rainwater Harvesting: A Sustainable Practice
🔵 Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.
🔴 It is one of the most effective water conservation practices, especially in water-scarce areas.
🟢 Benefits include:
- Recharging groundwater
- Reducing dependency on municipal supply
- Controlling urban flooding
- Providing water security
🟣 Traditional rainwater harvesting systems in India:
- Rooftop harvesting (Rajasthan)
- Khadins and Johads (Western India)
- Tankas (Bikaner and Barmer)
- Bamboo drip irrigation (Meghalaya)
🟡 In Meghalaya, people build bamboo pipelines to transport water from streams to fields over long distances.
🔵 Cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi have made rainwater harvesting mandatory in new buildings.
🔴 Watershed development programs aim at conserving rainwater by improving soil, water, and vegetation in a defined area.
🟢 Schools, offices, and homes are increasingly installing rooftop rainwater harvesting systems.
🟣 This method reduces runoff and soil erosion and increases groundwater levels.
🟡 Harvesting rainwater is especially crucial in urban areas with declining water tables.
🛑 Challenges to Water Resource Development
🔵 Excessive dam construction leads to flooding, displacement, and ecological imbalance.
🔴 Water conflicts between states (e.g., Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) have become more frequent.
🟢 Privatization of water supply is a rising concern, especially in urban areas.
🟣 Pollution from sewage, industrial waste, and plastic is rendering many rivers unfit for use.
🟡 Groundwater contamination with arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates poses serious health hazards.
🔵 Lack of community participation in water management limits the success of government schemes.
🔴 Climate change will worsen existing issues by causing extreme weather patterns.
🟢 Over-extraction of water is leading to aquifer collapse in some regions.
🟣 Inefficient agricultural practices waste huge amounts of water.
🟡 Lack of public awareness and education about conservation methods hampers progress.
🧠 Government Initiatives and Schemes
🔵 Key government schemes for water conservation:
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan
- Atal Bhujal Yojana
- Namami Gange Programme
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
- National Water Mission
🔴 The Ministry of Jal Shakti, formed in 2019, focuses on water conservation and management.
🟢 The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap water to every rural household.
🟣 The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan also promotes clean rivers and sanitation.
🟡 Public-private partnerships and NGO involvement are key in the implementation of local water projects.
🔵 School-based programs educate children about sustainable water usage.
🔴 The focus of policies has shifted toward community-led and decentralized water conservation efforts.
✅ Conclusion: The Way Forward
🟢 Water resources are finite and must be managed wisely to ensure availability for future generations.
🟣 Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is the need of the hour, combining all water-related efforts under one umbrella.
🟡 Encouraging traditional methods, technological innovations, and public participation can improve water sustainability.
🔵 Afforestation, pollution control, water recycling, and rainwater harvesting should be adopted widely.
🔴 Public awareness, responsible usage, and strict policy enforcement are essential.
🟢 If managed well, India can ensure “Water for All” and avoid a looming water crisis.