World’s most water-stressed country: Half of India will be out of edible water by 2030
New Delhi: About half of India’s water demand could go unmet by 2030 due to rising population, urbanization, and wealth, said a report published in Indian newspaper ‘Business Standard’.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the BJP-led Modi government is not taking the matter seriously and despite making efforts it started to suppress opponents as well as people who demand their rights like right of self-determination by the Kashmiris.
As per the Indian newspaper report, India, now the world’s most populous nation, will be the hardest hit from water scarcity. Despite holding 18% of the world’s population, it only has enough water resources for 4% of its people, hence making it the world’s most water-stressed country, the publication quoted World Bank as stating.
Yet nearly half of India’s 1.4 billion residents already face high-to-extreme water stress, and the world’s most populous nation is expected to add more than 200 million more people by 2050.
Groundwater is vital for India’s agriculture, industry and population needs, the Interconnected Disaster Risks Report, published in October 2023 said, adding that India mostly relies on its monsoon season to meet its water demands, but climate change has caused more floods and droughts to hit the country, and has exacerbated its water shortage, it stated.
The report projects India’s water demand will double by 2030, making it more than the amount available. This could affect millions and negatively impact the India’s GDP.
The World Bank also reported that India is the world’s most water-stressed country. The total water demand in India is projected to increase by 22% in 2025 and 32% in 2050, with 85% of this demand expected to come from industrial and domestic sectors alone by 2050.
Although the experts suggest to go on techniques such as rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and more efficient irrigation. However, this transformation requires massive spending on dams and canals, making urban water supply expensive.
The south and the northwest are expected to face the worst in the next two years, said report of the WWF for Nature said, adding that 100 cities, including 30 in India, facing “severe water risk” by 2050.
