Why Water Security is Important for Vikshit Bharat @2047

Courtesy: Times of India

Water security is a bedrock of sustainable development, economic growth, and social equity, and is pivotal to India’s dream of Vikshit Bharat @2047: becoming a fully developed, self-reliant nation. As India continues to progress in its endeavour to join the group of global economic leaders, the mounting strain on its water resources entails serious consequences. The demand for water due to an ever-increasing population base, rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and erratic climatic conditions will constantly increase. India is already under serious water stress, with per capita water availability falling from 5,177 cubic meters in 1951 to roughly 1,486 cubic meters in 2021. If this trend continues, it could fall to less than 1,000 cubic meters per capita by 2050, a level that will qualify India as a water-scarce nation. Such a worrying trajectory highlights an increasingly desperate need for well-thought out policies, technology-based solutions, and local conservation action to safeguard India’s water requirements for tomorrow.

Agriculture, the backbone of India’s economy, is the biggest consumer of water, taking almost 80 per cent of the country’s freshwater. However, inefficient irrigation practices, excessive groundwater retrieval, and unpredictable rain patterns due to climate change have made the sector increasingly at risk of drought.. Dependence on groundwater for irrigation in states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh has created worrying depletion levels, with aquifers being drawn out at an unsustainable rate. It is yet another reminder that, with 54 per cent of India’s groundwater wells in decline, food security will come under threat unless more efficient and effective strategies for managing water are adopted. Dew/Trickle and Sprinkler Irrigation are modern irrigation methods which not only save 30-50 per cent of the water but also increase the yield of the crops compared to the traditional flood irrigation. There is more than 60 per cent waste in dry areas. Water conservation in farming has gained attention under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Atal Bhujal Yojana, but the adoption rate has been sluggish. Water conservation in agriculture is also being ensured by promoting rainwater harvesting, crop diversification, and micro-irrigation systems for long-term sustainability and food security.

India is witnessing rapid urbanisation which adds to the water crisis as the country’s population is expected to be 40% urban by 2047 Demand for municipal water is projected to increase by 80% over 2050 and in most Indian cities water sources are already running dry; supply infrastructure is inadequate and wastewater is poorly managed. NITI Aayog reports that by 2030, 21 major Indian cities, including Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru, are at risk of being out of groundwater. Today, 40% of water meant for urban use gets lost in the cracks; wasting it stretches the water supply ever-thinner.

In addition, treating wastewater poses a serious challenge, with more than 70% of urban wastewater released into rivers and lakes without treatment resulting in serious pollution. Urban planning companies will need to implement rainwater harvesting, desalination plants, and smart water metering systems to better manage their resources and conserve this precious commodity. These solutions significantly alleviate pressure on freshwater resources and benefit both industrial and domestic users by improving the supply and availability of recycled water,  since wastewater recycling programs are likely to greatly reduce water and food transportation costs, also by encouraging industries and households to consider recycling practices.

Another large water consumer is industry, which is vital for India’s economic growth. Industry currently uses 12% of all India’s freshwater, but that could grow to 16% 2050. The textile, chemical, steel, and pharmaceutical industries are also extremely water-intensive, and they are drawing upon resources faster than they can be replenished. Additionally, industrial waste pollution leads to low water quality, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption and agriculture. Thermal power plants that supply 70%  of India’s electricity need large amounts of water for cooling, and many of them are in water-stressed areas. A World Resources Institute (WRI) study has said that nearly 40% of India’s thermal power plants would face acute water shortages by 2040, threatening the country’s energy security. The sustainable growth of industries cannot be ensured without formulating policies to adopt Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology, getting mandatory water audits done, and pressing industries to reuse treated wastewater rather than rely on freshwater sources. Adoption of water-efficient technologies should be encouraged among industries and the regulatory framework needs to be strengthened to avoid excessive  water use and pollution, promoting industrial growth without compromising the environment.

Water security is also fundamental to health and sanitation. Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities is a basic human right, yet 163 million people in India still lack access to clean drinking water. Waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea still represent major health threats, resulting in more than 200,000 deaths each year. Millions in states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan are also affected by groundwater contamination from fluoride, arsenic, and nitrates, making the burden of public health even heavier. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched with the commendable objective of ensuring tap water connections to each household by 2024, but the reality on the ground is that ready access to safe drinking water will call for considerable investment in state-of-the-art filtration technologies, sewage treatment plants, and stringent pollution control measures. Public awareness campaigns can also be instrumental in driving behavioural change that encourages good hygiene and sanitation and responsible water consumption.

Climate change raises another serious challenge to India’s water security, making rainfall more variable, glaciers melt faster and extreme weather events more common. The Himalayan glaciers — which are the source of the country’s major rivers, such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra — are melting at an alarming rate, jeopardising the water supply of nearly 600 million people. Higher temperatures are also raising the frequency and severity of droughts and floods, disrupting agriculture, displacing communities, and damaging infrastructure. Coastal regions risk losing the availability of freshwater because of seawater intrusion into freshwater reserves. India should invest in climate-resilient water infrastructure, develop more robust watershed management systems, and embed climate adaptation in national water policy. And, of course, afforestation, restoring degraded wetlands, and large-scale groundwater recharge projects would help retain water and make people more resilient to climate shocks.

Water insecurity has a staggering economic cost. Water-related issues like droughts, floods and inefficient use of water cost the Indian economy around 6% of the GDP every year, according to estimates from the World Bank. If not addressed, the water crisis could unleash mass migrations, inter-state conflicts, and rampant farmer distress, derailing India’s developmental aspirations. Enforcing compliance with long-term efforts such as the National Water Policy (NWP) and water governance coordination between is essentiel for ensuring water sustainability. Public policy interventions must emphasise stringent and equitable underlying groundwater regulation and consumption status, as well as mass community-led conservation. Water is not merely a divisible good, it is a shared resource that must never be a subject of dispute.

Water security is not just an environmental imperative, it is a species-defying economic, societal, and political one. The dream of Vikshit Bharat @2047 will be impossible without sustainable water management. A combination of technology innovation, policy reform, industrial accountability, and community participation is the answer. Therefore, as India progresses, a focus on the efficient use of water by establishing mechanisms to check pollution, promote rainwater harvesting and inter-sectoral cooperation in water management may alone ensure a water-secure future. All levels of government, industry, agriculture, and society as a whole must act now to protect water supplies for future generations.