Context

  • According to the Global Water System Project (launched in 2003) as a joint programme by the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) and Global Environmental Change (GEC) programme, there is an increasing global concern regarding the human-induced change in freshwater sources and its impact on the society.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 4th assessment report (2007) showed the link between societal vulnerability and changes in the water systems.
  • It is estimated that the gap between demand and supply of freshwater would reach up to 40% by 2030 if the current trends continue.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Anthropogenic factors impacting freshwater systems

  • Engineering of river channels
  • Irrigation and other consumptive use of water
  • Widespread land use/land cover change
  • Change in an aquatic habitat,
  • Point and non-point sources of pollution affecting water quality
  • The intra- and inter-basin transfer (IBT)

The intra- and inter-basin transfer (IBT)

  • The intra- and inter-basin transfer (IBT) of water is one of the main hydrological interventions to balance the water scarcity due to naturally existing unequal distribution of water resources.
  • Recent reports show that there are 110 water transfer mega projects that are being executed or being planned across the world.
    • The National River Linking Project of India is one among them.
  • These projects would create artificial water paths that are twice the length of the earth’s equator and will transfer 1,910 kms of water annually.
  • The projects will re-engineer the hydrological system with a high chance of local, regional and global level implications.
  • The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (2009) has recommended a vigilant approach and adherence to sustainability principles set out by the World Commission on Dams during the planning and construction of IBT projects.
  • Inter-basin transfer of water came under the spotlight in India, because of a provision made in the Budget 2022 for the Ken Betwa river link project.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Key concerns in the Indian context

  • The idea of IBT is to transfer water from the surplus basin to a deficit basin.
    • However, the water demand in the donor basin by taking into account present and future land use, cropping patterns, population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation, and socio-economic development are not analysed.
    • Also, the rainfall in many donor basins is reducing.
  • Concerns about the utilisation of water resources
    • India has created irrigation potential of 112 million hectares, but the gross irrigated area is 93 million hectares.
    • In 1950-51, canal irrigation contributed 40% of net irrigated area, but by 2014-15, the net irrigated area had reduced to 24%.
    • The average efficiency of irrigation projects in India is only 38% against 50%-60% in the case of developed countries.
  • Consumption of more water
    • Rice and wheat, which account for more than 75% of agricultural production, consume more water than the global average.
    • The agriculture sector constitutes about 90% of total water use in India.
    • Industrial plants consume 2 to 3.5 times more water than in other countries.
    • The domestic sector also sees a 30% to 40% loss of water due to leakage.
  • Gray water is rarely utilised in the country
    • Greywater refers to domestic wastewater generated in households or office buildings from streams without fecal contamination.
    • 55% to 75% of domestic water use turns into gray water based on the nature of use, climatic conditions, etc. Considering the size of India’s urban population, the amount of gray water generated is very high.
    • The discharge of untreated gray water and industrial effluents into freshwater bodies is cause for concern.
  • Reduction in natural storage capacity and deterioration in catchment efficiency.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Recommendations

  • The idea that the water system is evolving and that the issues are mainly with management and governance has been accepted.
  • Water projects are politically motivated and indicate an interconnectedness with social relations, social power, and technology.
  • It is crucial to include less predictable factors, adopt binary ways of thinking of ‘either or’, and involve non-state actors in decision-making processes.
  • A hybrid water management framework is required, where along with the professionals and policymakers; the individuals, community and society have predefined roles in the value chain.

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