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Context - The Union Minister for Jal Shakti stated that India is on the line to achieving the target of providing tap water to every household by 2024.

 

Details

• The Union Minister for Jal Shakti participated in the National Water Conference titled "India Water Vision 2040 & Beyond" in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The Minister highlighted that the ‘Per capita availability of water in India has been falling and India may soon become a water-stressed nation’.
  • About 50 years ago, the per capita availability of water in India used to be 5,000 cubic metres.
  • It has reduced to 1,500 cubic metres due to increased population and water usage.
• He expressed that due to India’s geographical diversity and the global Climate change challenges, the problem of water stress gets more complicated.
  • India is a developing nation and the demand for water is going to increase further in the coming years”.
• He stated ‘India is among the highest consumers of groundwater and we need to decrease our dependence on groundwater.
  • He also suggested that recycling water in all possible ways should be encouraged in our country.
• He encouraged people to adopt rainwater harvesting, water conservation, recycling and reducing dependency on groundwater to solve the water-related issues of the country.
• He also released a booklet titled 'Water Warriors' on successful irrigation projects.
  • Individuals and organizations working for water conservation programmes were also honoured.

 

Jal Shakti Mission

• Jal Shakti Mission (JSM) is a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign.
• It was launched in March 2021 with the theme “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls”.
• It aims to create appropriate rainwater harvesting structures in urban and rural areas of all the districts in the country with people's active participation.
• During the campaign, officers, groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India will work together with state and district officials in India’s most water-stressed districts for water conservation and water resource management.
• The mission aims at making water conservation a Jan Andolan through asset creation and extensive communication.

 

Jal Jeevan Mission

• The Mission was launched on August 15, 2019.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• To provide safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections by 2024 to all rural households and public institutions; Gram Panchayat building, Primary School, Anganwadi centre, Health and wellness centres, etc.

Features

• The Mission ensures community participation and also includes an Awareness, Education and Communication Campaign.
• Development of water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household.
• Development of drinking water sources to ensure the long-term sustainability of the water supply system.
• Other features; Providing training, establishing water quality laboratories, Strict water quality testing and surveillance, Promoting Research work, starting a knowledge centre, programmes for capacity building of communities, etc.

Steps by the Government for water management

• The government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including groundwater conditions in the water-stressed blocks in India.
• National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by the Department of Water Resources for the conservation of rivers, river bodies and infrastructure in a scientifically planned manner through community participation.
• Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of groundwater development and management in the Country.
• Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020 has been prepared in consultation with States/UTs.
• Construction of watershed management structure under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana promotes water conservation and management, water harvesting, soil and moisture conservation, groundwater recharge, flood protection, and land development.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation is being taken up in the identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

 

Steps need to be taken

• The Water Management program focuses on recharging underground aquifers and promoting rainwater harvesting. This improves the availability and quality of groundwater in the long run, and provides water security to all.
• Adopt Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Operation and Maintenance.
• Making Village Water and Sanitation Committee under Gram Panchayat, Involve Community members at all Stages.
• Effective Communication among all stakeholders.
• Ensure Transparency and Accountability in Governance.
• Promote and ensure maintenance services.
• Investments in creating the necessary infrastructure, and developing skills.
• Empowering Women, as they face more adversities due to lack of easy access to water.
• Awareness Campaign on water conservation.

 

Way forward

• India has one of the largest watershed management programs in the world. This programme will enhance this progress by adopting and applying scientific technologies, decision support tools, and knowledge exchanges.
• Government and administration should work with local communities to revive traditional water bodies, and design and construct cost-effective groundwater recharge structures; such as check dams, ponds, farm ponds, tanks, recharge wells, etc.

 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1816036