How Not to Rush Into a Water Crisis





India's water sector requires greater policy attention and more resources, not business-as-usual populism, to meet rising demand in a fast-urbanising economy . The AAP government's move to hike water charges in Delhi by 10%, for those who consume more than 20 kilolitres (KL) a month, may seem like reform. But it would be perverse incentive for those who consume less than 20 KL of piped, treated water gratis, to tamper with the meters for low readings. Delhi is an example for the rest of the country, because it is a prime example of both mismanagement and bad politics.In Delhi, 20% of households lack access to piped water, and another 23% have unmetered supply . While Delhi's daily re quirement is 1,000 million gallons a day (MGD), the supply is barely 80%. As much as 40% of the available supply leaks away from ancient pipes that are in dire need of replacement The AAP government in relatively high-income Delhi would do well to provide water supply for all households, rather than fritter away its political capital in giveaways and reckless, wasteful subsidies. While limited lifeline water supply is unexceptionable, reasonable user charges are a must to garner the resources needed to invest in the infrastructure and maintain it.
Nationally , we need to reverse groundwater usage. Already , the figures suggest that well over half the irrigation requirements are now met by mining groundwater and that 15% of all aquifers are in a `critical condition', and further that 60% of them would steadily become so affected, over the next two decades, in a business-as-usual scenario. We clearly need increased investment in dams, large and small, along with extensive water harvesting and comprehensive recycling. We need a businesslike approach, not populism, vis-à-vis water.