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| India election 2019: The looming water crisis politicians ignore | India election 2019: The looming water crisis politicians ignore |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| With voting now over in India's election, one issue that received little attention in the campaign is the country's growing water crisis. | With voting now over in India's election, one issue that received little attention in the campaign is the country's growing water crisis. |
| The ruling BJP party says it will provide piped water to every household by 2024 and the opposition Congress party has committed to providing universal access to drinking water. | The ruling BJP party says it will provide piped water to every household by 2024 and the opposition Congress party has committed to providing universal access to drinking water. |
| But there have been warnings of a growing national crisis - one estimate says as much as 42% of the land is currently affected by drought. | But there have been warnings of a growing national crisis - one estimate says as much as 42% of the land is currently affected by drought. |
| So can promises for access to water for everyone really be met? | So can promises for access to water for everyone really be met? |
| 'Suffering crisis' | 'Suffering crisis' |
| India has over 18% of the world's population but just 4% of its freshwater resources. | India has over 18% of the world's population but just 4% of its freshwater resources. |
| The country is "suffering from the worst water crisis in its history", according to a recent government-sponsored report. | The country is "suffering from the worst water crisis in its history", according to a recent government-sponsored report. |
| It warned that 21 cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai (Madras), were likely to run out of groundwater by 2020. | It warned that 21 cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai (Madras), were likely to run out of groundwater by 2020. |
| Across the country, the report estimates that by 2030, 40% of Indians could be without supplies of fresh drinking water. | Across the country, the report estimates that by 2030, 40% of Indians could be without supplies of fresh drinking water. |
| Cities growing | Cities growing |
| The water problem is different for urban and rural India, says Dr Veena Srinivasan, a fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. | The water problem is different for urban and rural India, says Dr Veena Srinivasan, a fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. |
| "Cities are growing so fast that there's no infrastructure that can deliver available water," she says. | "Cities are growing so fast that there's no infrastructure that can deliver available water," she says. |
| By 2030, the country's urban population is expected to reach 600 million. | By 2030, the country's urban population is expected to reach 600 million. |
| The long-term concern, however, is the overuse of groundwater in rural India, according to Dr Srinivasan. | The long-term concern, however, is the overuse of groundwater in rural India, according to Dr Srinivasan. |
| About 80% of water in India goes on agriculture, most of it taken from groundwater stored in rock and soil. | About 80% of water in India goes on agriculture, most of it taken from groundwater stored in rock and soil. |
| "It's a problem when extraction is more than the recharge," says VK Madhavan, chief executive of WaterAid India. | "It's a problem when extraction is more than the recharge," says VK Madhavan, chief executive of WaterAid India. |
| Major crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton are also water-intensive - and water isn't used that efficiently. | Major crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton are also water-intensive - and water isn't used that efficiently. |
| Producing 1kg (2lb) of cotton takes 22,500 litres (5,000 gallons) of water in India but just 8,100 litres in the US, according to the Water Footprint Network. | Producing 1kg (2lb) of cotton takes 22,500 litres (5,000 gallons) of water in India but just 8,100 litres in the US, according to the Water Footprint Network. |
| And the water table has reduced by 13% in 30 years, according to India's official Economic Survey for 2017-18. | And the water table has reduced by 13% in 30 years, according to India's official Economic Survey for 2017-18. |
| One important benchmark is the ratio of annual groundwater extraction to net availability. | One important benchmark is the ratio of annual groundwater extraction to net availability. |
| In 2013, India overall was within the ratio regarded as safe, although, even then, there was more groundwater consumed than replenished in some parts of the country. | In 2013, India overall was within the ratio regarded as safe, although, even then, there was more groundwater consumed than replenished in some parts of the country. |
| By 2018, water levels had declined in about 66% of wells monitored across all regions, when comparing the 2018 pre-monsoon level with the average level for the previous 10 years. | By 2018, water levels had declined in about 66% of wells monitored across all regions, when comparing the 2018 pre-monsoon level with the average level for the previous 10 years. |
| Per capita availability of water was expected to fall from 1,545 cubic metres (400,000 gallons) in 2011 to 1,140 cubic metres in 2050, said a parliament statement in February. | Per capita availability of water was expected to fall from 1,545 cubic metres (400,000 gallons) in 2011 to 1,140 cubic metres in 2050, said a parliament statement in February. |
| Climate change is also a factor. | Climate change is also a factor. |
| Fewer but more intense spells of rainfall cause water to run off the earth rather than soak through to replenish groundwater, says Mridula Ramesh, of the Sundaram Climate Institute. | Fewer but more intense spells of rainfall cause water to run off the earth rather than soak through to replenish groundwater, says Mridula Ramesh, of the Sundaram Climate Institute. |
| And droughts can become more common with global warming curbing rainfall in dry regions. | And droughts can become more common with global warming curbing rainfall in dry regions. |
| Funding cut | Funding cut |
| Water use is a state issue in India, but there has been a federal scheme for some years to encourage states to supply safe drinking water to rural areas. | |
| However, funding was cut in the past five years, as the current government prioritised other schemes, such as sanitation. | However, funding was cut in the past five years, as the current government prioritised other schemes, such as sanitation. |
| As of May this year, just over 18% of rural households had a piped water supply, which is only 6% more than five years earlier. | As of May this year, just over 18% of rural households had a piped water supply, which is only 6% more than five years earlier. |
| India will start charging industry a water conservation fee from June but some view the proposed fee structure as insufficient. | India will start charging industry a water conservation fee from June but some view the proposed fee structure as insufficient. |
| Dr Srinivasan says the key to resolving the problem is focusing on farmers' need for an income, rather than their need for water. | Dr Srinivasan says the key to resolving the problem is focusing on farmers' need for an income, rather than their need for water. |
| "We need to rethink what is grown, where and how," she said. | "We need to rethink what is grown, where and how," she said. |
| Also important are steps to recycle water, and harvest and store rainfall to recharge groundwater. | Also important are steps to recycle water, and harvest and store rainfall to recharge groundwater. |
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