The Fast Lane to India's Water Management

Abstract

AbstractIndia is among the world's most water‐stressed countries. In 2018, NITI Aayog (an Indian government research body) released the results of a study warning that India is facing its “worst” water crisis in history and that demand for potable water will outstrip supply by 2030 if steps are not taken. The study further indicated that critical groundwater resources, which accounted for 40% of India's water supply, are being depleted at “unsustainable” rates and up to 70% of India's water supply is “contaminated.” The impact of water scarcity and the poor quality of water is already being severely felt in India's many regions, and it is only going to deteriorate if steps are not taken quickly to improve water management. Sensing the great challenge and urgency, the Government of India created the Ministry of Jal Shakti in May 2019 to consolidate interrelated functions pertaining to water management. Activities proposed by Jal Shakti are well‐intentioned but going by historical information, the strategy pursued so far has not worked effectively. Without reinventing the wheel, it is time for India's decision makers to pursue the fast lane to water management through innovative measures leveraging global experiences. This paper suggests adopting models of proven partnership projects between world's rivers and between large waterbodies.