Empowering India to Marginalise and Overcome Emerging Crisis of Water

Valued as elixir of life, Water remains critical as originator, sustainer and promoter of life on planet earth. Despite having more than 70% of surface area under water, still availability of adequate amount of water for human consumption remains limited. Globally, majority of nations are facing perpetual problems of providing adequate quantity of potable water for human consumption. According to the study made globally, large proportion of global population remains water stressed during part of the year. Majority of health-related problems also hold genesis in limited availability of quality water. Globally, among nations, India remains one of the most water stressed nation. Holding more than one-sixth of global population and largest animal count, India is vested with only 4% of global water resource. Considering rapidly increasing population, increased urbanisation & industrialization and increasing consumption of water, India faces the gravest challenge of providing adequate quality and quantity of water to all its citizens and animals. Considering the emerging crisis, paper looks at the current scenario of water availability in India and issues faced in providing adequate quality and quantity of water. Based on studies made and analysis carried out, paper presents a framework for overcoming the emerging water crisis in Indian context, so that life above land could be made more sustainable, qualitative and productive, as mandated in one of the Sustainable Development Goals.