WATER POLITICS

A UN report released recently predicts that as many as 3.4 billion people will be living in “water-scarce” countries by 2025. The report is particularly grim when it refers to India’s water security. While India is home to 18 per cent of the world’s population, it only holds four per cent of global usable water resources. Water insecurity would have dire consequences for India’s economy, food and health security. With energy demand expected to rise, India needs to focus on improving water use efficiency and ensuring co-operation in the use of shared water sources, to work towards water security.

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A report by the UN states that 29 per cent of India’s groundwater assessment blocks are categorised as semi-critical, critical or over-exploited and the situation continues to deteriorate. Approximately 97 million Indians already lack access to safe water and the UN estimates that the overall water demand in India will exceed the available quantity of usable water by 2050.

The report identifies Asia as the future hotspot for conflict over water extraction. The Aral Sea and the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Indus and Mekong River basins, are not only crucial for India, but also for Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, which all depend on those sources for water supplies.

Water in India is used inefficiently; 85 per cent of the rural population depends on groundwater reserves, and extraction from those sources at the current usage rates, is unsustainable. The Green Revolution led to the acceleration of agricultural development and groundwater usage, severely degrading groundwater resources as irrigation expanded. As a result, water resources today are critically mismanaged and wastage and inefficiency are widespread.

The water security challenges facing India require a holistic and inter-disciplinary management approach.  The government needs to take major policy decisions to ensure better usage and conservation. Some policies that could bring a positive change include: rational water pricing; encouraging a reduction in domestic and industry water use; and the development of an effective national legal framework for water governance.

Rainwater harvesting is an important part of the solution to India’s water problems. Currently, 65 per cent of rainwater is wasted. Holding on to this water is crucial. If collected properly, it could reduce the pressure on water demand in the agricultural sector.  

A better use of technology in both the agricultural and energy sectors, would also improve water use efficiency. Education on the scarcity and economic value of water is also required, if the country is to achieve long-term changes.

Water is likely to become the new source of conflict between India and its neighbours. In 2013, India voiced its concerns that China was building three new dams on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Although China stated that its projects would not harm downstream flows, the lack of transparency has not alleviated Indian fears. Increased regional co-operation and formal agreements are critical to avoid potential conflict. China does not have any multilateral water sharing agreements with its neighbours. As a result, increasing transparency and co-operation on projects impacting shared water sources is crucial.

Solutions to India’s internal water issues will be costly and will take time to produce tangible change. If the crisis is to be managed effectively, however, insecurity must be addressed now. External pressures created by shared sources will prove even more difficult to manage than local issues. Governments from the region need to show willingness to work together. Conflict might not be inevitable, but considerable co-operation and practical compromises will be required to avoid it.