Question : Water Scarcity

(a) whether the Government is aware that India is set to become water scarce country by the year 2025 as per the study conducted by EA water, a leading consulting firm in water sector;
(b) if so, the details and the facts thereof along with action taken/to be taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study on demand and supply of water in the country in the next decade and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has made any assessment on the requirement of funds to meet the challenges and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to rope in some overseas players/developed countries in the infrastructure development for domestic water supply and waste water management and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) to (c) A study by ‘Everything About Water’ (EA Water), a consulting firm in water sector has concluded that India’s demand for water is expected to exceed all current sources of supply and the country is set to become water scarce by the Year 2025.

The average annual water availability for the country has been assessed by Central Water Commission as 1869 billion cubic meters (BCM). Due to topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water has been estimated to be about 1123 BCM, comprising of 690 BCM surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water. The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), in its report in 1999, assessed that the annual water requirement by the year 2025 and 2050 will be about 843 BCM and 1180 BCM respectively. The details in this regard are at Annexure I.
Contd…P/2


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Several steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management to ensure sustainability of water resources are undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments through various schemes and programmes.

Government of India has launched the National Water Mission with the objective of ‘conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management’. One of the Goals of National Water Mission is ‘increasing water use efficiency by 20%’. Further, Government of India has formulated the National Water Policy, 2012 wherein several recommendations have been made for conservation, development and management of water resources in the country. Copies of the National Water Policy, 2012 have been forwarded to all State Governments/UTs and concerned Ministries/Departments of Central Government for appropriate action.

(d) Assessment of fund requirement for different schemes / projects is done by the Central Government / concerned State Government on case to case basis.

(e) Necessary action for collaboration with foreign countries in the water sector is taken as and when necessary, as per the existing rules / regulations / guidelines of the Government.

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