Fresh water is perhaps the most important of all the natural resources affected by uncontrolled economic growth. As per estimates 1,683 m.cu.m of water flows through Indian rivers every year. The basic source of water in an area is precipitation in form of rainfall and snowfall. Runoff from precipitation drains through streams and rivers or is collected in tanks or ponds. Rainfall in India varies from place to place and year to year (see Fig.). The average rainfall in the country is about 119.4 cm, which when considered over the geographical area of 328 m.ha. amounts to 392 m.ha.m. It is estimated that out of this about 70 m ha.m. is lost to the atmosphere, 115 m ha.m. flows as surface runoff and the rest 215 m ha.m. seeps into the ground. Experts have estimated that 30 years from now approximately one third of the world population will suffer from acute water crises. According to renowned water experts. A growing scarcity for fresh water is now a major impediment to food production, ecosystem, health, social stability and peace among the developing nations. Each year millions of tons of grain is grown by depleting underground aquifers.

	Source: Land and People (NCERT Book)(click on map for larger view)
	The availability of renewable freshwater per capita in India has fallen from around 6000 cu.m per year in 1947 to about 2300 cu.m in 1997. It is estimated that by the year 2017, there will be acute water crises as per capita water availability will go down to 1600 cu.m. With a view to have a systematic and scientific development of its water resources, the country has prepared and adopted a comprehensive National Water Policy in the year 1987. In large parts of India, people are already facing scarcity of water for both drinking and irrigation purposes. It is an irony that in India even 'Mohsynram' famous world over for maximum rainfall faces acute water shortages in the dry months.
	(click on map for larger view)
	Water Stress Index
	The adequacy of water availability can be categorized using a "water stress index" (Falkenmark and Widstrand, 1992). This index is based on the minimum per capita level of water required to maintain an adequate quality of life in a moderately developed arid zone country. A region whose renewable fresh water availability is below 1700 cubic meters/capita/annum is a 'water stress' region, and one whose availability falls below 1000 cubic meters/capita/annum experiences chronic 'water scarcity'. At present, several parts of India are classified as water stressed, for example, regions in the Indus, Krishna, Mahi, and Ganga sub-basins.Furthermore, a few parts of India are water scarce, namely, the regions under east flowing rivers between Pennara and Kanyakumari, between Mahanadi and Pennar, Cauvery, etc. And as per these indicators, India as a whole may face severe water stress by 2025with a per capita availability of only 1389 cubic meters. (Source: Dr. Yoginer K. Alagh, 1999. Downloaded from International Food Policy Research Institute Website)
	Surface Water Quality
	Large stretches of all the 14 major rivers, lakes and other water bodies have become contaminated due to untreated or partially municipal and industrial effluents and non point pollution sources. This also leads to eutrophication of water bodies. The Government of India has classified all water bodies from class A to E as under:
	SCHEME FOR ZONING AND CLASSIFICATION OF LAKES AND RIVERS
	Designated Best Use Class of water Criteria Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection A 1. Total coliform shall be 50 or less 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 3. Dissolved Oxygen 6 mg/l or more 4. BOD5 less than 2 mg/l Outdoor bathing B 1. Total coliform shall be 500 or less 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 3. Dissolved Oxygen 5 mg/l or more 4. BOD5 less than 3 mg/l Drinking water source conventional treatment followed by disinfection C 1. Total coliform shall be 5000 or less 2. pH between 6 and 9 3. Dissolved Oxygen 4 mg/l or more 4. BOD5 less than 3 mg/l Propagation of Wild Life Fisheries D 1. pH between 6.5 and 8.5 2. Dissolved Oxygen 4 mg/l or more 3. Free Ammonia (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less Irrigation, Industrial Cooling, Controlled Waste Disposal E 1. pH between 6.0 and 8.5 2. Electrical Conductivity at micro mhos/cm Max 2250. 3. Sodium absorption Ratio Max 26 4. Boron, Max 2 mg/l
	Source : Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi
	The country also has 26 important wetlands out of which 6 have been identified as Ramsar sites by IUCN. These are also important surface water resources of the country. Besides, most villages have small ponds which, though individually insignificant, collectively they are important means of rain water storage and are seasonally important.
		It is estimated that 1.5 million pre-school children in India die every year from diarrhoea, and that cholera, dysentery and gastroenteritis are responsible for 60% of the total urban deaths (Sivaramakrishnan, 1993). In 1990, there were almost ten million cases of acute diarrhoeal diseases, 1.8 million of malaria, and 3700 of cholera (MHFW, 1992).  Source: Policy seminar, Dr. Y K Alagh.1999                  (click on image for larger view)
	Ground Water Potential and Quality:
	It is estimated that 43.19 m.ha.m of replenished ground water is available in India per year out of which 32.5 m.ha.m is potentially utilizable. Out of this the annual draft is 11.5 m.ha.m approx. (See Statistics). Over exploitation of ground water is also emerging as an increasing serious problem in many parts of the country and in many districts of Punjab, Haryana and Gujrat, the ground water table is declining at the rate of about half a meter per year. The number of Tube Wells in the country has increased from about a thousand in 1947, to about 60 lakhs in 1997. A 1994 survey of the groundwater quality at 138 sampling locations in 22 industrialized zones of India revealed that water in all 22 zones was not fit for drinking, due to high bacteriological and heavy metal contamination (CPCB, various years).
	Causes of Degradation of Water Resources:
	The major causes are: Depleting forest and grass cover, particularly in catchments areas. Neglect of traditional water harvesting and conservation techniques. Increased pollution of both surface and ground water. Improper water resources management. Absence or improper functioning of industrial and municipal treatment plants and non-implementation of environment laws. Therefore substantial water resources development is the prime need of our Country. 'Sustainability' is the Central concept, which must address economic, social and environmental issues. Sustainable water resources Management means 'meeting the water requirements of the people, at the same time, conserving water resources for the benefits of future generations.' Technological cooperation and the growth of indigenous capacities at the grass root level and in the hierarchy of super structures are integral to that design and its implementation, particularly in the context of our country.     Water Sector at a Glance:   Item     Estimated Annual Precipitation (including snowfall)  4000 BCM.   Average Annual Potential in Rivers 1869 BCM   Per Capita Water Availability (2001) 1820 Cu.M..   Estimated Utilisable Water     i)   Surface 690 BCM   ii)  Ground 432 BCM   iii) Total 1122 BCM   Live Storage Capacities   i)   Complete Projects 173.73 BCM    ii)   Projects Under Construction 75.42 BCM   iii) Projects Under Consideration 132.32 BCM   Irrigation Potential     Created & Utilised 22.6 Million Ha.   i)   Major and Medium 9.7   Million Ha.     ii)  Minor Irrigation 12.9 Million Ha.        a) Surface Water      b) Ground Water 6.4 Million Ha. 6.5 Million Ha.   Source: Water and Related Statistics, CWC, March2002
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