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Summer is coming

March 20, 2017 | Expert Insights

Does India have enough water to make it through?

Public weather forecaster India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that average temperatures will be a degree above normal in the country this summer. Large swathes could experience a heat wave, much like last year.
In 2016, over 700 Indians died due to the heat and millions of others were affected in drought-hit regions.
 

Where do We Stand on Water?

India’s water reserves are 122% higher than the previous year, according to the Central Water Commission, a body that monitors water levels in the country. Much of that is largely due to the normal rainfall India received in 2016, after two consecutive years of drought.
Of the 91 reservoirs in India, 59 have more water than last year. The better placed states include Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
 

Does it Mean India is Comfortable?

The southern states seem to be struggling. Water available at reservoirs in southern India stood at a bare 17% of the total capacity as of March 16. The storage during the corresponding period of last year was 19% and average storage of last 10 years during corresponding period was 31%.
 

Assessment

The storage capacity data is impressive. Reservoir water is mostly used for irrigation during the summer and winter months, and for power generation. But, the question is, what about the towns and cities depending on groundwater? Extraction is large scale, but there is no groundwater recharge policy in place. Rainwater is unpredictable due to climate change. Hence, rainwater should be used efficiently through traditional models.