The central government is in battle mode to contain an endemic water crisis the country is grappling with. The first tranche of aid, Rs820 crore, from the Union budget’s allocation, has been disbursed to the states to ensure a steady supply of drinking water in rural areas. Apparently, the states are flush with funds to deal with the adverse situation on the ground, but the drought is no less monstrous. Half of India — at least 13 states — are severely affected. Maharashtra, a drought-prone region, is perhaps the worst of the lot.

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Water is no longer a right, but a luxury

In the last three years, the monsoon has been particularly unkind to India. The arid regions of Maharashtra, in particular Marathwada, has seen a phenomenal rise in farmer suicides. In Latur, the authorities were forced to clamp Section 144 to prevent water riots. The crisis has assumed such dangerous proportions that a train carrying 5 lakh litres of water was sent to bone-dry Latur where households till recently were allotted 200 litres on a weekly basis. Compare that measly consumption with the WHO figures that puts the daily minimum requirement of a family between 100 and 200 litres. In India, for the less fortunate, water is no longer a right, but a luxury often bought with a steep price for the sole purpose of survival. A nation of 1.32 billion people is now fervently hoping that this year’s forecast of a healthy monsoon comes true. 

Reason behind the crisis

The nationwide drought has been caused by an amalgamation of natural and man-made factors. Deficient monsoons in 2014 and 2015 have been attributed to the El Nino phenomenon. Currently, water levels in the 91 major reservoirs in the country have dropped to less than one-third of their capacity at 29 per cent, as per the Central Water Commission’s report. This is considered the lowest in the decade. In case of another spell of drought this year, agriculture will be largely dependent on a mere 400 BCM (billion cubic metres) of groundwater, which is again fast depleting. Rivers are faring no better. The Ganga, regarded the lifeline of North India, catering to a quarter of India’s population, has been experiencing a much-reduced flow. To a great extent the river’s water level is determined by the groundwater reserves of the areas along its course. With the water table shrinking further over the years, and the delay in the melting of the Himalayan ice this year, the shortage is being acutely felt. In South India, while the Krishna River basin is badly affected, Cauvery and Godavari basins are facing deficiency. 

The rampant plundering of groundwater reserves for agricultural and industrial purposes, contamination of underground drinking water sources, the cultivation of water-intensive crops such as sugarcane in vulnerable areas, and the damming of rivers in the upper reaches have been instrumental for this catastrophe. This is indeed the worst time for agriculture and industries, with even power generation coming to a halt at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s station in West Bengal’s Farakka.

Ripple effect of crisis visible 

The ripple effects of this crisis will soon be palpable in the   prices of cereals and other essential commodities. This situation has been in the making for several years, and will likely aggravate in the coming days. Population explosion, mismanagement of existing resources, including massive deforestation, and, to top it all, human greed, have left millions in the lurch. The drought has stripped vast sections of the rural populace of dignity. Today, mass migration from the villages to the cities is an inescapable reality, putting undue burden on urban centres. 

The worst fall-out of climate change is staring at humanity across regions and international boundaries. The global shortage of water points to a dystopian future when wars will be fought over this growingly precious resource.

At present 4 billion people worldwide are affected by the shortage for at least one month every year. Latest studies show that the impact of the crisis is most acutely felt by about 1.8 billion people for six months in a year. The World Economic Forum rates “water crises as one of the three greatest risks of harm to people and economies”. Who knows when the thirsty of the world will unite in rebellion against the existing order?