This chapter studies the availability, use and management of fresh water in India. Although water is a renewable resource, its uneven distribution and rising demand have created scarcity in many regions, caused more by over-exploitation, pollution and unequal access than by absolute shortage. The chapter explains the importance of multipurpose river-valley projects and dams for irrigation, hydroelectricity, flood control, water supply and navigation, while also discussing their drawbacks — the displacement of people, submergence of forests and farmland, ecological damage and the disputes they cause, as seen in movements such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan. It strongly recommends rainwater harvesting as a traditional and sustainable solution, describing methods across India: rooftop harvesting and tankas in Rajasthan, guls and kuls in the Himalayas, khadins in arid regions and bamboo drip irrigation in Meghalaya. The chapter concludes that conserving and managing water wisely is essential to ensure its availability for all and for future generations.
Water scarcity and its causesMultipurpose river projectsDams: benefits and problemsMovements against large damsRainwater harvesting methodsWater conservation and management
Key terms
Water scarcity
Shortage of usable water caused by over-use, pollution or unequal access.
Multipurpose project
A river-valley project that serves several purposes such as irrigation and power.
Hydraulic structures
Dams, embankments and channels built to store and manage water.
Rainwater harvesting
Collecting and storing rainwater for later use and to recharge groundwater.
Tankas
Underground tanks used to store rainwater in arid Rajasthan.
Khadins
Traditional rainwater harvesting structures in the arid west.
Narmada Bachao Andolan
A movement opposing large dams on the Narmada river.
Dam
A barrier across flowing water that stores it in a reservoir.
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Water scarcity in many regions is caused mainly by:
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