Page 2 - Water Supply

Water crisis can impact India's sovereign credit strength: Moody's

A level below 1,700 cubic meters indicates water stress, with 1,000 cubic meters being the threshold for water scarcity, according to the govt

77% rural households provided with tap water connections: Govt data

About 77 per cent or 14.88 crore rural households have been provided with tap water connections till now, according to official data. There are a total of 19.31 crore rural households in the country, according to official data by the Jal Jeevan Mission. According to official data, 14,88,16,184 out of a total of 19,31,21,778 rural households have been provided with a tap water connection so far. Eleven states and Union Territories (UT) have achieved 100 per cent coverage in rural areas, the data showed. A total of 16 states and UTs have tap water coverage between 75-100 per cent and five states have coverage of 50-75 per cent. Rajasthan and West Bengal have below 50 per cent coverage, according to the data. Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.

Water shortages feared as snow in Hindu Kush Himalaya hits record low

The Hindu Kush Himalaya is experiencing significantly lower snow persistence this year, raising serious concern over water security for downstream communities, according to a new report. Leading experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a Nepal-based intergovernmental organisation, have urged water management officials to initiate drought management strategies and preemptive emergency water supply measures. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region heavily depends on the cryosphere -- frozen water on the Earth's surface, including snow, permafrost, and ice from glaciers, lakes and rivers. This frozen water is a critical source of freshwater for around 240 million (24 crore) people living in the HKH region and has far-reaching benefits for around 1.65 billion (165 crore) people downstream. Snowmelt accounts for around 23 per cent of the total water flow of 12 major river basins originating in the HKH. However, its contribution varies from river to

Delhi govt plea for water: SC says meeting of UYRB to be held on June 5

The Supreme Court said Monday an emergent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) be held on June 5 so that the problem of water scarcity in Delhi is properly addressed. The apex court was hearing a Delhi government plea seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its ongoing water crisis. A vacation bench of Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan noted that the advocates appearing for the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have agreed that a meeting of the UYRB be held to address the issue of scarcity of water in the national capital. "In the course of hearing, all the parties agreed that there should be a non-adversarial approach to the problem of scarcity of water faced by the citizens of Delhi," the bench said. It said the lawyers have "agreed that there shall be an emergent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on June 5 to address the issues agitated in th

Delhi BJP holds protest march over water crisis in city

Delhi BJP leaders and workers held a protest march on Friday from Shahidi Park in the central part of the city towards the secretariat over the water crisis in the national capital. Led by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, the protesters carried placards and raised slogans against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory asking commuters to avoid the stretch. "In view of the protest by a political party near Shahidi Park, BSZ Marg Delhi, Traffic will remain heavy at BSZ Marg, IP Marg and BSZ Marg may be closed for traffic movement between 11.15 am to 2.00 pm. Kindly avoid these roads and plan your journey accordingly," it said in a post on 'X'. On Thursday, BJP Mahila Morcha office bearers held a protest outside Delhi minister Atishi's residence over the water crisis in the city.

Decoding Delhi's water crisis: Causes, impact, and sustainable solutions

Delhi is grappling with water crisis which has impacted the citizens' life severely. The govt's response has been too little, too late. Explore the root causes, impacts, and solutions to the crisis

Atishi accuses Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water since May 1

Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water since May 1 and said the government will be implementing a slew of measures including rationalising supply of water in the national capital. Addressing a press conference, Atishi said many areas in Delhi are grappling with water shortage and appealed to people to use water judiciously. She also warned that if people do not heed this appeal, the government may have to impose challan for excess use of water in coming days. She said that the Delhi government is constantly talking to Haryana about the issue and if it is not resolved in the next couple of days, it may approach the Supreme Court over the matter. "Haryana has stopped release of Delhi's share of water. The water level at Wazirabad was 674.5 feet on May 1. This is the average level that should be maintained. Last year in April, May, and June, the minimum level was maintained at 674.5 feet," Atishi said. Sharing data, the minister said t

Water supply to breweries might be curtailed in Marathwada region

With parts of Marathwada region in Maharashtra facing water shortage due to inadequate rainfall, water supply to breweries in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district might be curtailed if necessary, an official said. The Jayakwadi dam's Nath Sagar reservoir supplies water to residential and industrial areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and neighbouring Jalna district. Twelve companies are involved in making liquor and beer in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In the 2023-24 financial year, these companies manufactured 761.53 lakh bulk litres of liquor and 3,778.28 bulk litres of beer, an excise official said. They generated a revenue of Rs 5,455.70 crore for the state government, which was Rs 347.14 crore more than the previous year (2022-2023) year, the official said. Amid scarcity, 443 water tankers have been operating in the district as of April 4. As of now, 269 villages and 48 hamlets are dependent on tanker water supply, a revenue official said. Asked about the water availability and it

Govt starts 'Catch the Rain-2024' campaign to promote water sustainability

The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Saturday launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2024' to optimise rainwater harvesting and other sustainable water management practices. Speaking at the launch of the campaign here in the national capital, Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised the pivotal role of women in water management, conservation, and sustainability. The event themed Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti', which marked the fifth edition of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, was held at the New Delhi Municipal Council Convention Centre. Under Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti', the campaign seeks to establish a strong connection between women empowerment and the sustainable management of water resources, Shekhawat said. Key highlights of the event include the screening of a documentary titled Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2019 to 2023'- a public-led movement marching towards water security' and unveiling of two books Jal Shakti Abhiyan: 2019 to 2023' and 101 Water Champions of Jal Jeevan ..

Water supply will be available at low pressure due to Yamuna pollution: DJB

The water supply will be available at low pressure due to high level of pollutants being received in Yamuna river at Wazirabad pond, the Delhi Jal Board on Monday said. Issuing a notification on social media platform 'X', the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said, "Due to high level of pollutants (Ammonia more than 2.5 ppm) being received in River Yamuna at Wazirabad pond, water supply will be available at low pressure till the situation improves. Residents are advised to store sufficient quantity of water in advance as per requirement. Water tanker will be available on request." Shortage in water supply, mud accumulation in water buckets and sewage smells in water are some of the problems that the Resident Welfare Associations in North, South and Central Delhi have raised. The RWA presidents have alleged that despite making several complaints in the past, no action has been taken by the Delhi Jal Board to resolve the issue. North Delhi RWA president Ashok Bhasin claimed that the frequency of

Water supply to area around Burari Metro Station to be affected on Fri: DJB

Water supply will be affected in the Burari Metro Station area on February 16 due to water pipeline interconnection work by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Jal Board officials said on Wednesday. There will be no supply of water for 18 hours from 9 am on February 16 to 3 am on February 17, they said. "Due to interconnection of 700 mm dia water pipeline by DMRC Ltd. at Burari Metro Station, the competent authority has approved the shut down for 18 hours on February 16 from 9 am to 3 am on February 17. Residents are advised to store sufficient quantity of water in advance as per requirement. Water tanker will be available on request," a DJB notice said. Areas that will be affected are Burari Harizan Basti, Ekta Enclave, Garhi village, Prem Nagar, Baba Colony, Laxmi Vihar, Sant Nagar, Kaushik Enclave, Tomar Colony and adjoining areas. In the Kadipur ward, areas including Kadipur village, Nagli Poona, Badipur, Swarup Vihar, Makhmal Pur, Nathupura Colony and adjoining areas will

Water supply to be hit in parts of West Delhi on Thursday, says DJB

Water supply in several areas in western part of the national capital will not be available for around 12 hours on Thursday so that the leakage in a pipeline can be fixed, the Delhi Jal Board said Tuesday. Residents are advised to store sufficient quantity of water in advance according to their requirements, it said, adding that water tanker will be available on request. The affected areas include, Nangloi, Mundka, Hiran Kudna, Kamruddin Nagar, Nihal Vihar, Ranholla Village, Bakkarwala, Rajdhani Park, Friends Enclave, Dichaon Kalan, Jhroda Village, Mitraon Village, Chhawla Village, Jaffarpur Kalan and Dhansa. "Water supply to the areas and colonies will not be available from 10 am to 10 pm on Thursday for attending the leakage at 1,500 mm line opposite Neelkanth Vatika near Karala chowk by M/s NWS Pvt. Ltd. under Nangloi WTP," the DJB said.

AP Govt making efforts to supply water to benefit farmers: Officials

The statement claimed that the government has made a necessary plan to protect the crops planted by the farmers

Karnataka govt seeks Rs 17,901 crore drought relief funds from Centre

The Karnataka government on Wednesday demanded Rs 17,901.73 crore in funds from the Centre to compensate farmers affected due to drought in the Kharif season this year. Karnataka Agriculture Minister N Chaluvaraya Swamy, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, and Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda met Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Kumar Ahuja and Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla separately and updated them about the drought situation in Karnataka. The three state ministers are also members of the Karnataka Cabinet sub-committee on drought management. Briefing the media after the meeting, Byregowda said, "We have sought a total drought relief of Rs 17, 901.73 crore as per the NDRF norms. We have requested the central government to clear the funds at the earliest. As of September 22, the state as a whole recorded 26 per cent deficit rainfall that led to an estimated agriculture and horticulture crop loss in about 45.55 lakh hectares during the kharif season, he said. The sta

Gaza's limited water supply raises concerns as conflict intensifies

A lack of clean water in the Gaza Strip is raising major concerns for human health. Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life, said Philippe Lazzarini, chief of the U.N. agency for Palestinians. Gaza normally gets its water supplies from a combination of sources, including a pipeline from Israel, desalination plants on the Mediterranean Sea and wells. Those supplies were slashed when Israel cut off water, along with the fuel and electricity that power water and sewage plants, in the wake of the Hamas attacks. The United Nations recognizes access to water as a human right, and on a basic level, the human body needs a constant supply of water to survive. Next to air, water is really the most important thing for maintenance of your health, said Dr. Tsion Firew, an emergency physician at Columbia University who has worked on water access in humanitarian settings. A report from the U.S. National Academies of Science and Medicine says men need to drink about 3.7 liter

Melting J&K glaciers threaten water supply, biodiversity, warns expert

Melting of glaciers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is going to impact the water availability in the Himalayan region with consequent adverse effect on the dependent livelihoods, a leading scientist has warned. Studies show that glaciers in the region have dwindled by 25 per cent in the last six decades, while 48 per cent of them could vanish by the century's end even with moderate climate change. Earth scientist and glaciology expert, Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, voiced concerns, highlighting the significance of snow and glaciers for J&K and Ladakh. "We have about 18,000 glaciers, some of these glaciers are big like the Siachen glacier which in one dimension has a length of about 65 kms. The huge glaciers we have, about 500 to 600 metres thick, are huge resources in J&K and Ladakh," Romshoo told PTI. The scientist noted that under climate change and increasing temperatures, the glaciers in the region are melting. "The other thing that is happening in this region under the climate ...

FOWE's patented water emulsion tech to clean dirty fuel for Indian refiners

It is considered a dirty fuel and has often been banned from use in the national capital and other cities around the world. But now a Monaco-based firm is offering Indian refiners a patented technology to emulsify fuel oil with water that helps cut down on emissions as well as gives better energy yield. FOWE Eco Solutions (FOWE) says a process known as cavitation using its Cavitech device allows for emulsification of fuel oil, also known as furnace oil, with fresh water on land or onboard a vessel. This process does not require any additives or further processing. The result is a considerable reduction in particulate matter, its chief operating officer Hemant Sondhi said. Emissions of NOx, the main greenhouse gas contributors, are significantly reduced and fuel efficiency is improved. "We have successfully tested our patented technology to emulsify fuel oil, which is also known as furnace oil, with 10 to 15 per cent water," he said. "The FOWE emulsified fuel gives better energy yiel

Delhi CM promises to supply clean drinking water 24x7 to households

People in Delhi will get 24x7 supply of clean drinking water in their homes in the next few years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday. He also promised that all unauthorised colonies will have roads by December 2024. The AAP chief said his government built roads in 850 colonies in the past seven years, compared to 250 in the national capital's 1,700 colonies in the last 65 years. Speaking at the inauguration of a road development project in the unauthorised Dashrathpuri colony of Dwarka, Kejriwal said he is a common man who only knows how to work for the people. He assured the people that he will not let development works stop despite the Centre "taking away" the powers of his government. "The Supreme Court, in its May 11 order, said the elected government should have all the power to work but, on May 19, they (Centre) brought an ordinance and snatched all the powers of the elected government," Kejriwal said. The Delhi chief minister claimed that he does not underst

ADB, India Sign $200 million loan to expand urban services in Rajasthan

The Asian Development Bank will provide additional financing to support the Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project to improve water supply, sanitation systems, and urban resilience

60% households in SC-dominated areas provided tap-water connections: Centre

About 60 per cent rural households in areas dominated by Scheduled Castes have been provided with tap water connections, the Jal Shakti Ministry said on Thursday. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel gave data showing that 1,32,64,760 out of 2,18,06,280 rural households in SC-concentrated/dominated habitations have been provided with tap water connections. In a written response, he said the aim is to enable every rural household in the country, including those in Scheduled Caste (SC) hamlets, to have assured potable water at service level of 55 litres per capita per day through tap water connection.