Reasons for Water scarcity in India despite fresh water resources

16.     India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.

    Though India is well endowed with fresh water it suffers from water scarcity because of the following reasons.

• Regional disparity among various regions. Some parts of India has arid and semi- arid conditions
• Significant number of non-perennial( seasonal) rivers which depend upon monsoon
• Monsoon climatic condition which results in abundant rainfall in a short period of around three months and lean period rest of the time.
• Spatial variance in the amount of precipitation received .Numerous local factors play a role in bringing downpour which results in some receiving abundant rainfall and the other being water scarce
• High population of India has led to increased need of water. Moreover with increasing purchasing power demands/needs have risen.
• Low awareness and implementation of water reuse and recycling .Increased costs and less priority has led to fewer water recycle /treatment plants.
• Increased pollution of water resources due to industrial effluents, excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, etc. has decreased the net amount of fresh water available for usage. Perennial rivers such as Ganga have been heavily polluted. Such misuse and abuse of water bodies has resulted in polluted and contaminated lakes, ponds and wetlands
• Over exploitation of ground water coupled with inadequate aquifer recharge and lack of awareness about water harvesting programmes.
• Unsustainable water utilization such as excessive irrigation. Government policies such as free electricity and minimum support price(MSP) for water intensive crops has nudged the farmers into choosing unsustainable irrigation techniques.

    Thus despite India receiving precipitation higher than the global average, unequal distribution and periodic nature of precipitation coupled with bad consumer choice has let India water scarce. It is suggested decentralized planning by empowering gram Panchayats (to act panni panchayats) might be the road to sustainable water management.