Skewed availability of water potential for social unrest: Government

PTI Feb 5, 2012, 10.36AM IST

NEW DELHI: Noting that large parts of the country have become "water stressed", the government has warned of potential "social unrest" due to its "skewed" availability in different regions.

The draft of the latest National Water Policy released recently admits that large parts of India have "already become water stressed. Rapid growth in demand for water due to population growth, urbanisation and changing lifestyle pose serious challenges to water security".

According to the draft policy, access to safe drinking water still continues to be a problem in some areas.

"Skewed availability of water between different regions and different people in the same regions is inequitous and has the potential of causing social unrest," it said.

Other concerns flagged in the policy include increase in sea levels which "may lead to salinity intrusion in ground water aquifers or surface waters and increased coastal inundation in coastal regions."

Wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water may increase substantially due to climate changes, causing more water crisis and incidences of water related disasters, like floods, increased erosion and increased frequency of droughts.

The policy also points that in the water-rich eastern and north eastern regions of India, the water use infrastructure is weak and needs to be strengthened in the interest of food security.

"Community should be sensitised and encouraged to adapt to utilisation of water as per local availability of water. Community-based water management should be institutionalised and strengthened," it says while referring to use of water.