Comprehension
Given the precarious condition of its ground and surface water resources (rivers, stream, lakes, wetlands and reservoirs). India could be water-scarce country in the next 40 years. With 1.486 cubic meters (~1.5 million litres) of water available per person, per annum, India falls in the water stressed category. A dip below 1000 cubic meters per person. per annum will push it into the water-scarce category.
The manner of water consumption also compounds the problem. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) statistics show the indiscriminat use of ground water turned 4% of the total 7,089 assessed units in the country critical in 2022 while 14% were assessed as over-exploite The situation was worse in 2017 when 17% of the units were over-exploited. Various recharge and conservation efforts have borne fruit but the number of such units remain high in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In India, 87% of groundwater is extracted for irrigation and experts say excess withdrawal round the year may be the biggest reason for depletion, as the recharge primarily happens in the monsoon. On the other hand encroachment of water bodies and the discharge of untreated waste water into rivers and streams have reduced the surface water resources.
India will become water-scarce country if the availability of water per person per annum falls below
