With 16% of world’s population, India has barely 4% of world’s fresh water and 92% of which is consumed for Agriculture, 5% for Industries, 3% for domestic use. Increase in overall salinity of the ground water and sometimes the presence of high concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, iron, arsenic, total hardness and few toxic metal ions have made a large volume of available water unsuitable for drinking in many states of India. High salinity in ground water is mainly observed in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat and to a lesser extent in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Similarly there are 19 Indian states such as Rajasthan, Gujrat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, Haryana etc. where the ground water contain high fluoride , causing health hazards of Fluorosis. The occurrence of Arsenic in ground water in states like West Bengal, Bihar and some part of UP has been another challenge and affecting the rural lives of India. Presently Scholar Lab and IIT Jodhpur has identified a potential area of industrial research on cost effective desalination process, the prototype development of the same will be soon taken up followed by IP and product development. Additionally, we have rich experience in rain water harvesting and overall water resource management.
Water for people supports community-based water management as it is one of key strategies for analyzing, planning, and managing water resources in an equitable and sustainable way. Despite substantial government investments in rural water supply, access to quality water sources remains an issue in many parts of the country. In absence of meaningful community participation and ownership, sustainable water management poses a big challenge. Rising demand and poor management of water resources have resulted in increased water scarcity. Climate change has also adversely affected water resources that affects both the quantity and quality of water available. Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. Researchers around the world have pointed out the urgent need for action through well targeted adaptation efforts to tackle its impact on a war footing. People’s access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions can be impacted by extreme occurrences including droughts, floods, and developing water scarcity since climate change is directly affecting the global water cycle. As per IPCC WGII sixth assessment report – ‘ SPM.D.2(Pg.No.SPM-32) Climate resilient development is enabled when governments, civil society and the private sector make inclusive development choices that prioritize risk reduction, equity, and justice, and when decision-making processes, finance and actions are integrated across governance levels, sectors, and timeframes (very high confidence). Climate resilient development is facilitated by international cooperation and by governments at all levels working with communities, civil society, educational bodies, scientific and other institutions, media, investors, and businesses; and by developing partnerships with traditionally marginalized groups, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and ethnic minorities (high confidence). These partnerships are most effective when supported by enabling political leadership, institutions, resources, including finance, as well as climate services, information, and decision support tools (high confidence).’ For resilience building, there is an urgent need to invest in capacity building of water managers and equipping them with the tools, information, services and governance mechanism., especially within vulnerable communities Creating partnerships with networks of resource people, educational and scientific institutions, civil society, technical support units, etc. will aid in the development of climate and water resilient communities by providing handhold support to stakeholders and the marginalized vulnerable groups at the frontlines of the induced impacts. WFPI Pilot WRM Models Water For People has successfully demonstrated models across project locations for climate resilient infrastructure and WRM components such as Measure, Conserve, Recharge/Replenish, Reduce, Recycle, Prevention, Water quality monitoring and Treatment. WRM principles on which WFPI Models are based for multidisciplinary approach of sustainable water use, improvement of water resources management practices and climate resilient infrastructure are mentioned below- Water resource planning and management should be based on conjunctive use of water – surface water and ground water together. Integrate wastewater wherever possible.
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The Centre set up the Ministry of Jal Shakti by merging the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation as well as the ministry of drinking water and sanitation. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who heads the new portfolio, says a unified ministry can effectively deal with the multiple issues related to water and river cleaning projects to ensure the country does not face water shortage. The MP from Jodhpur, who defeated Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’ .
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