‘Water is critical for life on earth and is an enabler of economic development. India has about 18 percent of world population, but has only about 4 percent of world’s fresh water resources. There is temporal and spatial variation of water resources availability. For example, the per capita water availability in Barak and Brahmaputra river basin is about 11 times higher than that of Gangetic river basin. Due to climate change impact, there is high frequency of rainfall precipitation, and droughts are more frequent. Water demand for various uses is expected to exceed the available water supply.
For addressing water scarcity in India, water conservation is extremely essential. Kerala has shown the way by framing ‘Water budget’ in 94-gram panchayats covering 15 blocks in Kerala. This concept should be adopted by other states. A ‘Water Action Agenda ‘ covering all aspects of sustainable water management should be formulated and adopted in India.
India’s progress in SDG 6.1 goals for safe and universal water access and SDG 6.2 goals for improved sanitation are significant. There are however big challenges for meeting targets on other goals of SDG 6. These are improving water use efficiency, waste water treatment for reuse, improving water quality by reducing pollution, integrated water resource management at all levels, restoring water related ecosystems such as rivers, wetland, forests, etc. Urgent attention of policy makers is needed for achieving SDG 6 goals by 2030.
High political commitment for sustainable water management is a must at all levels.