Water Crisis: A lead for urban-rural dispute

Why in news?

Increasing trans-boundary transfer of water may result in increasing rural-urban dispute in the near future.

What is the status of water stress in India?

In the 75 years since independence, the annual per capita availability of water has declined by 75%.
Global Drought Risk and Water Stress map (2019) highlights that the major parts of India, particularly west and central parts of peninsular India are highly water stressed.
Composite Water Management Index (2018) released by the NITI Aayog highlights the worst water crisis in the country, with more than 600 million people facing acute water shortages.

“SDG 6: To ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

How India handles the water crisis?

The typical response to handle these water crises includes transfer of water from the hinterlands/upper catchments or drawing it from stored surface water bodies or aquifers.
This triggers sectoral and regional competition.

“At least 12% of large cities in the world rely on inter-basin transfers”

How water crisis will lead to urban-rural dispute?

According to Census 2011, the urban population in India accounted for 34% of total population distributed in 7,935 towns of all classes.
World Urbanization Prospects (2018) estimated that the urban population in India will cross the 40% mark by 2030 and 50% mark by 2050.
Water use in the urban sector has increased as more and more people shift to urban area.
The per capita use of water in the urban centres is on the rise, which will continue to grow with improved standards of living.
The growth of the cities necessitates water supply from hinterlands.
Thus, the allocation of urban water is enhanced at the expense of rural areas and the agriculture sector.
Almost all cities in India that depend on surface water, experiences this trend and it has the potential to ignite the rural-urban dispute.
This will further be exacerbated by the Climate change.
Also, in cities, most of this water is in the form of grey water with little recovery or reuse, eventually contributing to water pollution.

How to overcome this challenge?

A system perspective and catchment scale-based approach are necessary to link reallocation of water with wider discussions on rural-urban partnership.
Institutional strengthening will provide opportunities to build flexibility into water resource allocation at a regional level, enabling adjustments in rapidly urbanising regions.

Reference