Compounding crises: On the impact of a summertime water crisis

Context: Analysis of Central Water Commission data.

Key points:

• South India’s reservoirs are only filled to 23% of their holding capacity.
• The situation is worse than the 2017 summertime water crisis.

Factors responsible for water crisis:

• El Niño events contributing to erratic monsoons.
• General elections in India will result in increased outdoor activity and water demand
• On-ground preparedness and implementation of policies remain inadequate.
• Persistent issues- unplanned urban growth, groundwater over-extraction, low water reuse efficiency, lack of community involvement, and degradation of catchment areas.

Concerns:

• Climate change exacerbates simultaneous crises, such as droughts and disease outbreaks.
• Marginalized groups suffer most from compounded crises

The way ahead:

• Water crises must be understood in this broader context of compounding effects.
• Policymakers must recognize the multifaceted nature of future crises.

Source: The Hindu