India Rising Heat Worsens Water Crisis, Government Efforts and Sustainable Solutions
India is grappling with an escalating water crisis worse by rising temperatures with 2024 recorded as the hottest year since 1901. As heatwaves intensified the country saw 733 deaths due to extreme heat according to a report by Heat Watch.
The gap between water availability and consumption termed the water gap is increasing at an alarming rate. A study in Nature Communications found that India leads globally in water scarcity, with a baseline shortfall of 24.3 cubic km per year. Under a 1.5°C warming scenario, this gap is projected to increase by 11.1 cubic km annually, further straining resources.
The worst-affected basins include the Ganga-Brahmaputra (56.1 cubic km per year) and Sabarmati (52.6 cubic km per year), where water demand far exceeds supply.
Government Efforts and Su...