Major Challenges Related to Water Resources in India
- Decreasing level of groundwater resource: This valuable resource has diminished due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction induced by rapid urbanization.
- In most of northwestern India, groundwater has now dropped to 100 meters below ground level. If the current extraction rate continues, the groundwater level may drop by 200 to 300 meters in the future.
- As the water in aquifers recedes, scientists warn that land can sink suddenly or gradually in a process known as land subsidence.
- Increased water pollution: A large amount of domestic, industrial, and mining waste is dumped into water bodies, posing a risk of waterborne diseases and eutrophication/eutrophication. These can negatively affect the food web and especially aquatic ecosystems.
- Irregularities in the water system due to climate change: changes in precipitation patterns due to temperature fluctuations, sea level rise,
and evaporation accelerates with increasing temperature, making clouds heavier.
- The trade winds cannot blow through the clouds due to their great weight, which causes more precipitation over the oceans and droughts in dry regions. Floods or flash floods are also generated in many places by the occurrence of excessive rainfall/showers.
- Lack of Efficient Wastewater Management: Inefficient wastewater management coupled with scarce water resources in India is crippling the country’s ability to make optimal economic use of water.
- According to a report released by the Central Pollution Control Board in March 2021, India’s current water treatment capacity is 27.3% and sewage treatment capacity is 18.6%.
- Most of the wastewater treatment plants are not operating at full capacity and are also not meeting the prescribed standards.
Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural and Urban)
Jal Jeevan (Rural and Urban) Mission is an important Indian government scheme. In every government exam like SSC CGL, RAILWAY, BANKING, and some other related exams questions were asked about the government schemes. So further we are describing all aspects and dimensions of the Jal Jeevan (Rural and Urban) Mission. This article will help in the upcoming government exams.
- Water is a natural and economic resource, unique and irreplaceable. It is unevenly distributed on our planet, which underlines its competitive and conflictive nature. India offers a fitting example of the impact of the unequal distribution of this scarce resource on a growing population.
- India accounts for 18% of the total world population. But India has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources to meet basic water requirements for this population, showing the challenge of water distribution and access.
- The Government of India through its Jal Jeevan (Rural and Urban) Mission has recognized the ‘Right to Water’ and aims to provide an equitable distribution of fully functional tap water connections.
- But the mismanagement of water bodies, pollution, and the excessive use of groundwater highlight the main challenges related to water management, as well as the abuse of the ‘right to water and the need for urgent attention towards sustainable water management.