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Present Status and Perspectives of Water Resources in India

India has water abundance in the north and east, and water scarcity in the west and south. The availability of water resources in various river basins of the country is highly uneven. Also, India receives an annual precipitation of 4,000 billion cubic meter of which 75% occurs just in the four months of the monsoon period. Recently, growing population pressures and increased development have led to higher pollution, overuse, water scarcity in river basins and a degradation of the natural environment. Especially, ground water reserves are becoming more and more depleted as surface water sources become too polluted for human use. Based on criteria and availability of water in different river basins, some basins have already have scarce water resources and many more basins are likely to have water scarcity with the growing population. India’s water resources need to be more carefully managed is leading to the adoption of sustainable water management practices. Managing water resources will require a holistic approach that will address the pressures arising from various sources, including the agricultural, industrial and domestic sectors. By managing its water more carefully, India can avert the crisis that looms over the next century.