Water Crisis

Less than 7% water stock left in reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai

Mumbai is staring at a severe water crisis as the combined live storage in its seven supply reservoirs has dropped to less than 7 per cent, significantly lower than last year, due to delayed monsoon and insufficient rainfall so far this year. In the corresponding period last year, the water stock in these seven dams was 39.5 per cent. As per the data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Hydraulic Engineer's Department, the seven reservoirs together held 1,00,279 million litres of water, or 6.93 per cent of their total live storage capacity, at 6 am (on Monday), compared with 5,71,670 million litres (39.5 per cent) on the corresponding day last year. Seven reservoirs -- Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Tulsi, and Vihar -- make up the entire seven-lake system that supplies drinking water to the financial capital of the country and its metropolitan areas. They have a combined useful storage capacity of 14.47 lakh million litres and supply around 4,0

India faces very high credit exposure to water-management risks: Moody's

Moody's assigns India its highest water-risk score, citing groundwater depletion, ageing infrastructure and fragmented water governance

India faces very high credit exposure to water-management risks: Moody's

Moody's assigns India its highest water-risk score, citing groundwater depletion, ageing infrastructure and fragmented water governance

Moody's warns against 'very high' credit exposure to water-management risks

Moody's assigns India its highest water-risk score, citing groundwater depletion, ageing infrastructure and fragmented water governance

Pune region faces water crunch as reservoir storage plummets to 14%

The Pune region is staring at a possible water crisis as the 'live' storage in reservoirs stood at 14.30 per cent of total capacity on Thursday, significantly less than the 31.16 per cent recorded on the same date last year, according to official data. With the onset of the monsoon delayed, water availability is low compared to the last year in several parts of the state, the Maharashtra Water Resources Department's daily update on water availability showed. Across all 3,028 dams, weirs, and reservoirs in the state, the total 'live' or usable storage stood at 24.03 per cent on Thursday, compared to the 32.38 per cent recorded on June 18, 2025. Every dam has some water stock, considered as dead stock, which is generally not used for any purpose. The water accumulated above the dead stock is considered as live storage. A senior official of the Water Resources Department, however, said the storage figures could be slightly misleading as in 2025, the south-west monsoon had arrived in .

Explained: Why Mumbai civic body has cut water for construction sites, pools

The BMC has curbed water supply to construction sites, swimming pools and non-essential users as delayed monsoon keeps Mumbai's reservoir levels under stress

Stalled monsoon forces Mumbai to stop water supply to construction sites

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also cut distribution to other businesses, factories and sports clubs by 20 per cent , adding to the 10 per cent reduction in force for households since mid-May

Urban water crisis persists as cities underinvest in supply systems

Despite adequate water availability, India's cities continue to face recurring shortages as weak governance, poor planning and underfunded municipal bodies undermine water management

Irrigation water demand likely 807 BCM by 2050, govt pushes water budgeting

India which accounts for 17.5 per cent of the global population and 11.6 per cent of the world's livestock, could see its irrigation water demand rise to 807 billion cubic metres (BCM) by 2050, according to estimates cited by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The ministry noted that agriculture accounts for 80-90 per cent of water use in rural areas, adding to pressure on the country's water resources. According to the Central Water Commission's study, "Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs, 2019", India receives average annual precipitation of around 3,880 BCM. After accounting for natural losses such as evaporation and other factors, average annual water availability is estimated at 1,999.20 BCM. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has stressed the need for water budgeting and said India must move away from a supply-driven approach towards demand-based and planned water management systems. Water budgeting enables communities to assess water ...

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

Water availability must become a core criterion in selecting industrial sites, urban planning, and agricultural incentives

Cabinet approves extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the extension of Jal Jeevan Mission up to December 2028 with an enhanced outlay of Rs 8.7 lakh crore for the rural drinking water supply project which will now shift focus from infrastructure creation to service delivery. The project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to provide safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections to all households in rural India. The Cabinet decision shifts the focus from only infrastructure creation to citizen-centric service delivery supported by strong local governance and digital monitoring, PM Modi said on X. "The move will strengthen water security, improve health outcomes and empower rural communities, especially our Nari Shakti," he said. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision at a press conference. "The Cabinet approved the Ministry of Jal Shakti's proposal to restructure and reorient the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) from infrastructure creation

Statsguru: India's Cloud push hits a waterwall as data centres expand

India's data centre capacity has risen sharply over the past five years, reflecting accelerating investment momentum

Global water 'bankruptcy' begins as billions face irreversible shortages

Global warming is increasing water demands and makes the natural supply of water less predictable

After Indore water tragedy, Delhi Jal Board ordered to intensify checks

In view of recent deaths after consuming contaminated water in Indore, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to carry out stringent checks to prevent any such tragedy in the national capital, officials said on Wednesday. The Delhi government has issued a set of directives to DJB which are to be implemented with immediate effect. "Intensify regular inspections of all water supply pipelines, particularly in areas where drinking water lines run in proximity to sewer lines, to detect and repair any leaks, damages, or potential points of cross-contamination immediately," the directions state. Deploy dedicated teams for round-the-clock vigilance and maintenance in high-density and vulnerable areas, the directions to the DJB's CEO added. Earlier this month, at least 16 people died after consuming contaminated water in Indore's Bhagirathpura area leaving many more people who are admitted to hospitals. Among other directions, the Delhi government h

Datanomics: Madhya Pradesh records few bacterial contamination cases

Madhya Pradesh recorded 40 cases of bacteriological contamination in water samples in 2025-26 as of January 2, 2026, accounting for 0.15 per cent of all cases in the country

Indore water crisis: 142 hospitalised as 20 new diarrhoea cases detected

As many as 142 people are currently hospitalised amid an outbreak of diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water in Indore, including 11 in ICUs, even as 20 new patients were detected during screening of over 9,000 people in Bhagirathpura area, the ground zero of infection. Health teams examined 9,416 individuals from 2,354 households during an ongoing survey in Bhagirathpura, where six persons have lost their lives due to contaminated water, and identified 20 fresh cases, officials said on Sunday. According to officials, 398 patients had been admitted to hospitals so far following the outbreak. Of them, 256 patients have been discharged after recovery. They stated that 142 patients are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 11 admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The outbreak is under control now, they added. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Haasani said a team from the Kolkata-based National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections

Indore water crisis: Six dead, more than 200 hospitalised, says collector

Six people have died and more than 200 were hospitalised in an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city, a senior official said on Saturday. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava had on Friday said that he had received information about the deaths of 10 patients due to the outbreak, while residents of the Bhagirathpura area have claimed that 16 people, including a six-month-old child, have died. "At present, 203 patients are undergoing treatment in 41 hospitals across the city and six people have died," Collector Shivam Verma told PTI Videos. Of the patients admitted to hospitals, 34 are in the intensive care units (ICUs), and their treatment is being monitored specially. The Madhya Pradesh government has shunted out the Indore municipal commissioner and suspended two senior officials in view of the health crisis that emerged in the Bhagirathpura area. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday said he has ordered the "removal"

PM stays silent whenever poor die: Rahul slams BJP over Indore water crisis

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the BJP's double-engine government in Madhya Pradesh after at least 10 people died allegedly due to contaminated water in Indore and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always silent whenever poor die. Gandhi alleged that Madhya Pradesh has become the epicentre of misgovernance and cited various instances of casualties reportedly due to cough syrups, poor hygiene at government hospitals and now due to contaminated water. "Not water, but poison was distributed in Indore, and the administration remained in deep slumber," he said in a post on X in Hindi. "Every home is filled with mourning, the poor are helpless - and on top of that, BJP leaders are making arrogant statements. Those who lost their lives and livelihoods needed solace; the government offered arrogance," he said. Senior MP cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday triggered a controversy after he used an objectionable word on camera ghanta (loosely translating to

Indore water contamination: Residents 'no longer trust' water supply

The chaos over the contaminated water crisis in Indore's Bhagirathpura has claimed at least four lives and left several ill

Toxic aquifer beneath our feet: India faces its worst groundwater crisis

The most striking finding is the presence of uranium contamination across North India