Water, India’s great bottled-up problem

India is facing its most severe water crisis in history. According to NITI Aayog’s 2019 Composite Water Management Index, nearly 600 mn people experience high-to-extreme water stress. Exacerbating the problem is a lack of water equity, which risks widening societal divides and stalling socioeconomic progress. Take Shikarpur, a rare agricultural village in Delhi, near the Najafgarh drain and Delhi-Haryana border. Despite its proximity to the old Sahibi River (now the polluted Najafgarh drain), the village has struggled with water scarcity for years, forcing farmers to rely on borewells and tubewells to irrigate their fields. Now, authorities are hauling them over the coals for extracting groundwater, leading to widespread anger. Abhijit V Banerjee recently warned that such water inequities could have dire consequences for India’s future.

‘Richer’ urban centres fare even worse in terms of equity, burdened by burgeoning populations, unsustainable consumption patterns, ageing infrastructure (as seen in Shikarpur’s decaying pipelines), and inequitable distribution networks. Water pricing remains a politically sensitive issue. Striking the right balance – valuing water appropriately, discouraging wastage, and avoiding undue burdens on low- and middle-income households – is critical. Tech, such as smart meters, and regular maintenance of ageing pipelines can significantly reduce wastage.

However, systemic reforms – particularly in water conservation, distribution and accessibility – are essential to ensure fairness and sustainability in water policies. Some initiatives are already underway. But much more needs to be done. If India fails to act decisively, water scarcity and inequity will only worsen, jeopardising individual livelihoods and the country’s collective future.