India and the politics of water
Ranvir S. Nayar, ArabNews, April 19, 2018
Even
before summer has fully set in, temperatures across the Indian subcontinent
have soared unnaturally, and it is not just the atmospheric temperatures that
have risen. Tempers have frayed between various state governments and groups
across the country over the use of fast-diminishing water resources.
before summer has fully set in, temperatures across the Indian subcontinent
have soared unnaturally, and it is not just the atmospheric temperatures that
have risen. Tempers have frayed between various state governments and groups
across the country over the use of fast-diminishing water resources.
Summers
in India have historically been long, harsh, dry and hot. Often, water levels
in rivers and lakes go down extremely low, making the supply of drinking water
to many parts of the country a huge challenge. The situation has worsened due
to the impact of climate change brought about by global warming, which has seen
the Himalayas receiving much less snowfall and many glaciers disappearing. As
the Himalayas are the source of dozens of Indian rivers, this has dramatically
reduced the water availability during the summer months, leading to severe
water crises all around the country for at least four months a year before the
thirsty, dry land is quenched by the monsoon showers.
in India have historically been long, harsh, dry and hot. Often, water levels
in rivers and lakes go down extremely low, making the supply of drinking water
to many parts of the country a huge challenge. The situation has worsened due
to the impact of climate change brought about by global warming, which has seen
the Himalayas receiving much less snowfall and many glaciers disappearing. As
the Himalayas are the source of dozens of Indian rivers, this has dramatically
reduced the water availability during the summer months, leading to severe
water crises all around the country for at least four months a year before the
thirsty, dry land is quenched by the monsoon showers.
According
to studies by the United Nations, the per capita water availability in India
has fallen steeply over the last 25 years, declining from 2,309 cubic meters in
1991 to the current 1,500, and it is projected to fall to 1,340 by 2025,
pushing India into danger. But climate change isn’t the only reason behind the
country’s water scarcity. There is also the continuing rise in the Indian
population, which has grown from 846 million in 1991 to the current 1.3
billion. India is now home to nearly 20 percent of the world’s population but
has barely 4 percent of its freshwater.
to studies by the United Nations, the per capita water availability in India
has fallen steeply over the last 25 years, declining from 2,309 cubic meters in
1991 to the current 1,500, and it is projected to fall to 1,340 by 2025,
pushing India into danger. But climate change isn’t the only reason behind the
country’s water scarcity. There is also the continuing rise in the Indian
population, which has grown from 846 million in 1991 to the current 1.3
billion. India is now home to nearly 20 percent of the world’s population but
has barely 4 percent of its freshwater.
But
perhaps the biggest reason behind the water scarcity in India is the way water
is used and abused, and also the way a key resource like water is priced. Water
distribution is extremely unequal, with the rich, both urban and rural,
cornering an ever-increasing share of the available water, leaving the vast
majority of the poor fighting for survival on the balance. Paradoxically, often
the rich end up paying little or nothing at all for their excessive water consumption,
while the poor often have to pay over the top to private contractors.
perhaps the biggest reason behind the water scarcity in India is the way water
is used and abused, and also the way a key resource like water is priced. Water
distribution is extremely unequal, with the rich, both urban and rural,
cornering an ever-increasing share of the available water, leaving the vast
majority of the poor fighting for survival on the balance. Paradoxically, often
the rich end up paying little or nothing at all for their excessive water consumption,
while the poor often have to pay over the top to private contractors.
But
perhaps the biggest reason behind the water scarcity in India is the way water
is used and abused, and also the way a key resource like water is priced.
perhaps the biggest reason behind the water scarcity in India is the way water
is used and abused, and also the way a key resource like water is priced.
Ranvir S.
Nayar
Nayar
While the
poor, who mostly live in slums or clusters of small homes, depend on one public
tap, the rich dig borewells around their homes to draw upon the groundwater.
The sharp rise in water consumption in some cities has meant that the
groundwater table has fallen dramatically.
poor, who mostly live in slums or clusters of small homes, depend on one public
tap, the rich dig borewells around their homes to draw upon the groundwater.
The sharp rise in water consumption in some cities has meant that the
groundwater table has fallen dramatically.
In rural
areas, the disparities are even higher. The average farmer, with a holding of
less than two acres, depends on rainwater or the rare canal near his fields and
hence is able to plant one or two crops a year. The richer farmers, on the
other hand, have access to borewells and canals, and plant extremely
water-thirsty crops such as sugarcane in water-scarce regions.
areas, the disparities are even higher. The average farmer, with a holding of
less than two acres, depends on rainwater or the rare canal near his fields and
hence is able to plant one or two crops a year. The richer farmers, on the
other hand, have access to borewells and canals, and plant extremely
water-thirsty crops such as sugarcane in water-scarce regions.
Rivers
are the primary source of water for most of the country and they traverse
through several states, ensuring there have been fierce disputes about the
sharing of the water from these rivers. In the north, Punjab and Haryana — two
agricultural states that account for the majority of India’s cereal production
— have been engaged in a bitter battle over water for the past four decades.
More than 2,000 kilometers to the south, a similar story has been played out
between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the waters of the
Cauvery.
are the primary source of water for most of the country and they traverse
through several states, ensuring there have been fierce disputes about the
sharing of the water from these rivers. In the north, Punjab and Haryana — two
agricultural states that account for the majority of India’s cereal production
— have been engaged in a bitter battle over water for the past four decades.
More than 2,000 kilometers to the south, a similar story has been played out
between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the waters of the
Cauvery.
The
situation has been made worse by leaking pipes, broken canals and wastage.
Water recycling, though mandated by law for hotels, commercial establishments
and industry, is something of a rarity across the nation and water harvesting
is still in its infancy.
situation has been made worse by leaking pipes, broken canals and wastage.
Water recycling, though mandated by law for hotels, commercial establishments
and industry, is something of a rarity across the nation and water harvesting
is still in its infancy.
Unfortunately,
the water wars have been inflamed by politicians who seek to please their
voters by making unrealistic and unsustainable demands over water distribution.
Instead of changing the distribution patterns, taking concrete measures to
promote conservation and recycling, and distributing water more equally across
the nation, politicians of all hues have displayed short-sightedness. They have
played on emotions rather than finding solutions that would ensure the
sustenance of a country long blessed by nature’s boon of perennial rivers and
adequate rains that cover the entire landmass for at least three months of the
year.
the water wars have been inflamed by politicians who seek to please their
voters by making unrealistic and unsustainable demands over water distribution.
Instead of changing the distribution patterns, taking concrete measures to
promote conservation and recycling, and distributing water more equally across
the nation, politicians of all hues have displayed short-sightedness. They have
played on emotions rather than finding solutions that would ensure the
sustenance of a country long blessed by nature’s boon of perennial rivers and
adequate rains that cover the entire landmass for at least three months of the
year.
