According to a Niti Aayog report on Water Management Index; India is currently suffering from the worst water crisis in its history with the country ranked at 120 among 122 countries in the quality of water. By 2020, it said, 21 major cities of India will run out of water.The report said 600 million people are living in high water stress conditions, 75% of households do not have drinking water on premises and 84% rural households do not have access to piped water.
Water is indispensable resource and increasing pollution of water coupled with drying up of water storage structures has led government to act in urgent manner.
Various surveys highlight the seriousness of the issue and some important ones are following:
Government Initiatives
Although Government has adopted numerous steps in past to arrest the degradation of quality and quantity of water such as guidelines for repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies with external assistance and domestic support, National Water Mission and National Water Policy, but their shortfall has propelled it to take slew of measures in recent past.
Background: For improving the coverage of adequate and safe drinking water to the rural population, government provides technical and financial assistance through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)’ which was launched on 01.04.2009.
Note: Lack of targets in Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a challenge as the impact cannot be quantified. Thus fully quantifiable targets need to be given.
Note: Main groundwater user is agriculture sector which is close to 90 per cent. Therefore agriculture sector should be levied water conservation fee.
Challenges
Difficult to monitor the initiative due to shortage of manpower.
Way Forward
More awareness campaign needs to be done. Water Act, 1974 needs to be followed in letter and spirit.