Question.
Explain, availability and potentiality of water resources in India. ( UPPSC, 2020, 15 Marks)
Answer.
The water resource is a renewable resource and 75% of the earth is covered by water, yet many parts of the world including India face water scarcity.
Following are some facts and figures about the availability of water resources in India:
- India receives about 4% of the global rainfall but ranks 133rd in the world in terms of water availability per person per year.
- India receives an average of 114 cm of rainfall per year.
- The total rainwater available in India is about 4000 cubic km in a year.
- Out of 4000 cubic km, we are able to save only 1869 cubic km in the form of surface water and groundwater.
- Out of 1869 cubic km, we are able to use only 60% of it i.e. 1122 cubic km of water resources.
- By 2025, many parts of India will face complete water scarcity.
- 2/3 of the water resources are used for agricultural purposes.
- Agriculture uses 89% surface water and 92% groundwater.
Potential of Water Resources in India:
- The potential of water resources lies in the saving and efficient use of water resources, that is, we cannot increase the water resource but we can save it.
- India has a large coastline (7516.6 km) and this can be the means of meeting our future water requirements. By installing a series of water treatment plants along with the coastline, which is quite expensive, we can get rid of the water problem to some extent.
- In another way, India has abundant water resources but the water quality in India is not adequate.
- We can improve freshwater availability by reusing and recycling. Recycled water can be used for bathing, collecting, and cleaning purposes.
- We can save water by using water-efficient techniques like drip irrigation in agriculture.
- Rainwater harvesting and watershed management are other ways to save water.
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