Water Resources in India

Climate change refers to the long term warming of the planet due to human activities, characterized by rising temperatures, extreme weather events, melting ice caps, sea level rise, altered precipitation patterns and increased greenhouse gas emissions.Climate change exacerbates water scarcity in arid and semi arid areas through several consequences –

1. Rising temperatures increase evaporation, reduce precipitation and alter water cycles, exacerbating water scarcity in arid regions.
2. Altered precipitation patterns bring droughts, floods and unpredictability, reducing water recharge and exacerbating scarcity in dry regions.
3. Soil moisture loss due to increased evaporation and changed precipitation patterns depletes groundwater recharge and amplifies scarcity.
4. Snowpack decline reduces water storage, altering seasonal flows and diminishing groundwater recharge, exacerbating arid region scarcity.
5.  Groundwater depletion accelerates due to climate driven decreases in recharge, intensifying scarcity in arid regions aquifers and wells.
6.  Climate driven water quality degradation contaminates sources, increases salinity and intensifies algae blooms, worsening arid region water scarcity.
7. Rising temperatures and population growth boost agricultural, industrial and municipal water demands, straining arid region resources.
8. Land degradation and desertification reduce water retention, increase runoff and decrease groundwater recharge in arid regions.
9. Climate disruption alters ecosystems by damaging watersheds and disrupting natural water cycles, intensifying scarcity in arid regions ecosystems.

Effective government policies mitigate water scarcity in arid regions through climate resilient infrastructure, efficient water management and conservation incentives. Implementing water saving technologies, regulating usage and investing in renewable sources, desalination and wastewater reuse enhance resilience.

Article 262 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to adjudicate inter state river disputes, ensuring cooperative governance. The Inter State River Water Disputes Act (1956) facilitates dispute resolution through tribunals, promoting equitable water sharing among states.Inter state river disputes significantly impact water resource governance in India, affecting-

1. Delayed project implementation exacerbates inter state river disputes causing financial losses, water scarcity and social unrest, straining center state relations and hindering water resource governance.
2. Water allocation conflicts fuel inter state river disputes, sparking tensions over equitable sharing, priority rights and usage, hindering cooperative governance and sustainable resource management.
3. Environmental degradation intensifies inter state river disputes as pollution, sedimentation and altered flows harm ecosystems, aquatic life and human health, complicating water sharing agreements.
4. Socio economic tensions escalate inter state river disputes, triggering farmer protests, urban water crises and political showdowns, straining state relations and destabilizing regional stability.
5. Economic losses exacerbate inter state river disputes, affecting agriculture, industry, power generation and tourism, resulting in revenue losses, livelihood disruptions and developmental setbacks nationwide.

The way forward in governance involves strengthening institutions, enhancing data sharing, revising policies, promoting cooperative federalism, establishing robust dispute resolution mechanisms and fostering stakeholder engagement to ensure equitable, sustainable water management.