A well-integrated action plan is needed to solve India's water crisis

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₹47,000-61,000 crore. These costs today are likely to be much higher. Compare this with the 2024-25 budget estimate of the ministry of jal shakti of ₹98,418.79 crore, of which only ₹21,028.11 crore goes to the department of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation.

Also compare it with the estimated outlay of ₹278,000 crore for the ministry of road transport and highways, aimed at development activities that will only increase our resource challenge. Clearly, much needs to be done. On the positive side, water interventions, unlike in energy, are largely focused on people’s participation and demand management.

The government has several laudable schemes for stemming groundwater depletion and initiatives under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The questions that arise from some of these schemes relate to their outcome efficacy and issues of equity, fairness and justice: are common citizens engaged by such schemes being compensated adequately for their labour while alleviating governments of their responsibility? India’s water vulnerability is only set to rise in the coming decades, given our still-rising population, rapidly growing economic activity and climate change. The water shortages we face today have been exacerbated by the El Niño conditions experienced last year.