Deepening water stress across urban, rural centres calls for urgent reforms

Worsening heatwave conditions are rapidly intensifying problems in water supply across India. The temperature remains above 40 degrees Celsius across several northern cities, while persistently high night-time temperatures are increasing demand for water and electricity. At the same time, concerns over a possible Super El Nino-induced disruption in rainfall threaten to worsen the problem. The latest Central Water Commission data shows that water storage in 166 monitored reservoirs declined from 71.08 billion cubic metres (BCM) on April 30 to 63.23 BCM by May 14 — a fall of nearly 8 BCM in just two weeks. Thirteen major reservoirs have already dropped below 50 per cent of their normal storage levels.

 

The issue is unfolding even as India expands activity in several water-intensive sectors, including ethanol blending, data centres, artificial-intelligence infrastructure, and manufacturing. Besides, many of these investments are increasingly concentrated in water-stressed regions. Maharashtra and Karnataka, already prone to recurring drought conditions and groundwater depletion, continue to expand sugarcane cultivation and ethanol production despite sugarcane being among the most water-intensive crops. Similarly, states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka are emerging as major data-centre hubs despite facing periodic urban water shortages. Hyperscale data centres require significant quantities of water for cooling. The issue is not whether these sectors should expand, but whether industrial and energy policies are being aligned with hydrological realities. Water availability must become a core criterion in selecting industrial sites, urban planning, and agricultural incentives.

 

The consequences of the broader crisis are already visible across both rural and urban India. In Rajasthan’s Barmer district, for instance, the shutdown of a lift canal has left many villages dependent on a single hand pump. In Delhi, low flows and pollution in the Yamuna have reduced water-treatment capacity even as demand surges during the summer months, compelling it to nudge its neighbours for help. The Bengaluru water crisis in 2024 demonstrated how rapidly urban systems can collapse when groundwater reserves are depleted, lakes are encroached upon, and rainwater-harvesting norms remain poorly enforced. The crisis is no longer only about rain deficiency. Rising temperatures are accelerating evaporation and worsening groundwater depletion. India already extracts around 251 billion cubic metres of groundwater annually — about a quarter of the global total. Per capita water availability has fallen from around 5,000 cubic metres in 1950 to 1,486 cubic metres in 2021 and is projected to decline further. Research by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water suggests that 11 of India’s 15 major river basins are on the verge of facing severe water stress. Water shortage and stress can also have wider macroeconomic implications. An impact on food production can quickly feed into inflation with wider policy implications.

 

Unfortunately, local bodies remain poorly prepared for recurring drinking-water emergencies. Most cities still lack comprehensive water-security plans despite rapid urbanisation. Municipal systems continue to rely excessively on groundwater extraction, supplies through tankers during emergencies, and temporary crisis responses. Besides, utilities face significant transmission and distribution losses, running up to 40 per cent, according to some studies. It is vital that cities strengthen water storage infrastructure, enforce rainwater harvesting in residential and commercial buildings, revive lakes and wetlands, reduce pipeline leakages, and expand wastewater recycling. Clearly, India needs a comprehensive and holistic long-term plan to manage its water resources.