A Spatial Assessment of Water Scarcity Using the Water Poverty Index in Darjeeling Municipality, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT Water scarcity is a complex and multifaceted challenge that demands immediate attention and coordinated efforts at different locations based on several factors. Darjeeling city, globally renowned as “the Queen of Hills,” has been facing the problem of water crisis since 1980. During this period of rapid growth, improving urban water management and strengthening water resource protection are very crucial. The primary objective of this research paper is to spatially evaluate water scarcity in Darjeeling Municipality using the Water Poverty Index and to fulfill the research gap in understanding the elements that lead to water scarcity. A significant variation between the wards (WPI value, 41.27–55.56) has been observed. Wards 8 and 12 that are adjacent to the Central Business District have the most severe levels of water challenges because of a lack of natural springs and dependence on municipality connection. The convenient access to all the sites of Wards 6, 11, 13, 14, 21, and 23 receives the highest tourist footfalls. Wards 16, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27 denote the CBD area, comprising Chowk Bazar, Chowrasta, Mall Road, HD Lama Road, Loreto Convent, and administrative buildings. As a result of extremely high water demand, the municipality fails to supply sufficient water. With increasing distance to the outskirts, the water situation improves. As backup supplies, the residents in Wards 2, 5, 28, 31, and 32 collect water from natural springs. Ward nos. 1 and 2 enjoy access to the water supply from Jalapahar Cantonment. Therefore, this research work will help in the adoption of a comprehensive sustainable water management strategy by improving the infrastructure, decentralizing management, and so forth to cope with the stress conditions prevailing in the area. Thus, the findings can help to develop grassroots‐level water security plans and alleviate the acute water scarcity problem faced by the residents.