Water scarcity refers to the lack of freshwater resources. Scarcity is human-driven, it is a function of the volume of human water consumption relative to the volume of water resources in a given area. Water stress refers to the lack of fresh water resources to meet human and ecological demand. Compared to scarcity, water stress is a more inclusive and broader concept. It considers several physical aspects related to water resources, including water availability, water quality, and the accessibility of water, which is often a function of the sufficiency of infrastructure and the affordability of water, among other things.

The issue of water stress in India is reflected through the following:

• Increasing demand: India is home to nearly 17% of the world’s population but has only 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. Further, estimates indicate that India’s water demand will exceed supply by a factor of two by 2030.
• Lack of access to clean water: About 82% of rural households in India do not have individual piped water supply and 163 million live without access to clean water in their vicinity.
• Per capita water availability: In 1951, per capita water availability was 5,177 cubic meters. In the 2011 Census figures, this came down to 1,545 cubic metres a decline of about 70 per cent in 60 years.
• Pollution: 70% of India’s surface water is contaminated, contributing to about 20% of the country’s disease burden.
• Dependency upon groundwater: About 60% of the irrigation needs, 85% of rural drinking water needs and 50% of urban needs are met through groundwater, which is depleting at a rapid pace.
• Paradoxical situation of flood and droughts: In India, during 1996-2015, nearly 19 million and 17.5 million people annually were simultaneously affected by floods and droughts, respectively.

The impacts of water stress necessitate that relevant steps be taken. These include:

• Water conservation needs to be promoted. For instance, mandatory rain water harvesting structures in houses, development of small water harvesting structures such as low-cost farm ponds, nalla bunds, check-dams, etc.
• Afforestation including block plantations, agro-forestry and horticultural development, shelterbelt plantations, sand dune stabilization etc. must be given priority.
• Sustainable agriculture practices must be adopted. For instance, use of water efficient technologies, farmers’ education, and advisory services etc. Also, the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) and subsidies on water intensive crops must take into account the declining water table in the region.
• On the lines of American Planning Association (APA), state and city governments should consider water resource availability in the region while creating city plans and providing permits for new establishments, and restrict any development activities that are not sustainable in terms of water management.
• Industrial water quotas, tradable permits, and water availability linked licenses can help in optimizing water usage in scarce regions and minimize the water supply deficit.
• Shifting to alternatives such as solar and wind energy can reduce reliance on thermal power plants and create additional energy sources that are not heavily reliant on water for production.

All these measures, from the side of the government, residents, and civil society organisations will help reduce the water stress that India is currently facing.