Water Challenge

According to the Indian Ministry of Water Resources, 600 million people in India currently face high to extreme water stress in the country. Changed climate patterns with severe droughts and erratic rainfall have drained rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers across vast parts of India; and floods in other parts.

About three-fourth of the households in India do not have drinking water at their premise. With nearly 70% of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index, and around 200,000 people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.

The crisis is expected to get worse. By 2030, the water demand in India is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for population and business, and an eventual 6% loss in the country’s GDP. Social and economic losses are mostly due to low performer regions on the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) are home to more than 50% of India’s population and its agricultural baskets.

The present session aims to take an integrated approach to the water challenge and would discuss about the technology, infrastructure and investments required to provide safe and accessible water; implications of the water crisis on health, food security and economic growth; and appropriate design of urban spaces for efficient usage of water resources.