Research by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) indicates that
- 11 out of 15 major river basins in India are experiencing water stress (with annual water availability below 1,700 m3 per person).
- Water crisis has evolvedfrom a seasonal inconvenience into a permanent structural risk, threatening households, agriculture, industry, and urban economies (like Bengaluru, Delhi, etc.).
Challenges in ensuring water security in India
- Limited Freshwater Resources: India has nearly 18% of the world’s population but only about 4% of global freshwater resources.
- Declining Urban Water Availability: E.g. in Delhi, the actual water supply has plummeted to ~70% of its total daily demand of 1,250 million gallons.
- Seasonal Rainfall Pattern: ~ 70% of annual rainfall occurs within three months, making water availability highly uneven across seasons.
- Factors like El Nino have led to a 40% deficit even in monsoon rainfall in June 2026.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Such as inadequate facilities for treating wastewater (only 30% gets treated as per CPCB), high levels of water pollution, etc.
Strategies to achieve water security in India
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