Use and Over Exploitation of Surface and Ground Water Resources

The use and overexploitation of surface and groundwater resources pose significant challenges globally, impacting both the environment and human societies in various ways:

Use of Surface Water Resources

• Agriculture: Surface water is extensively used for irrigation in agriculture, which is vital for food production. However, inefficient irrigation practices can lead to water wastage and environmental degradation.
• Drinking Water: Many communities rely on surface water bodies such as rivers and lakes for drinking water supply. Proper management is crucial to ensure water quality and availability.
• Industry: Industries use surface water for processes such as cooling, manufacturing, and cleaning. Discharges from industrial activities can pollute water bodies if not properly regulated.
• Recreation and Tourism: Surface water bodies also support recreational activities like boating, fishing, and swimming, contributing to local economies. However, overuse can degrade water quality and harm aquatic ecosystems.

Issues with Surface Water Overexploitation

• Water Scarcity: Overuse of surface water can lead to reduced flow in rivers and depletion of lakes, causing water scarcity for both humans and wildlife.
• Ecological Impact: Reduced water flow affects aquatic ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, declining biodiversity, and disruption of natural processes.
• Pollution: Agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and untreated sewage can pollute surface water, making it unfit for consumption and harming aquatic life.

Use of Groundwater Resources

• Drinking Water: Groundwater serves as a vital source of drinking water for many communities, particularly in rural areas and regions with limited surface water availability.
• Agriculture: Groundwater is crucial for irrigation, especially in areas where surface water is scarce or unreliable. It supports crop growth and ensures agricultural productivity.
• Industry: Industries use groundwater for various processes, including manufacturing, cooling, and as a source of raw materials. Excessive extraction can lead to local groundwater depletion.

Issues with Groundwater Overexploitation

• Depletion: Over-extraction of groundwater beyond its natural recharge rate can lead to aquifer depletion, causing wells to run dry and reducing water availability for both domestic and agricultural use.
• Subsidence: Continuous groundwater extraction can lead to land subsidence, damaging infrastructure and altering local landscapes.
• Saltwater Intrusion: In coastal areas, excessive groundwater pumping can draw in saltwater from the ocean, contaminating freshwater reserves and rendering them unusable.
• Environmental Impact: Groundwater depletion can harm ecosystems dependent on groundwater flow and discharge, affecting wetlands, rivers, and lakes.

Sustainable Management Strategies

To address these challenges, sustainable management practices are essential:

• Water Conservation: Implement efficient irrigation techniques, promote water-saving technologies, and raise awareness about responsible water use.
• Integrated Water Resource Management: Coordinate usage among sectors (agriculture, industry, domestic) to balance water needs and ensure equitable distribution.
• Regulation and Monitoring: Enforce regulations on water extraction, pollution control, and groundwater monitoring to prevent overexploitation and contamination.
• Investment in Infrastructure: Develop water infrastructure for storage, treatment, and distribution to optimize water use efficiency and resilience to climate change.

Floods

Floods occur when water overflows onto normally dry land. They can result from heavy rainfall, river overflow, storm surges, or dam failures.

• Causes: Floods can be caused by natural factors such as heavy rainfall, melting snow, storm surges, and dam failures. Human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and poor land management can exacerbate the risk and severity of floods.
• Impacts: Floods can cause widespread damage to infrastructure, property, and crops. They can displace communities, disrupt livelihoods, and lead to loss of life. Floods can also contaminate water sources, spread waterborne diseases, and disrupt ecosystems.

Droughts

Droughts are prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall, leading to water scarcity.

• Causes: Droughts occur when there is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. Climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable water management practices can contribute to the frequency and intensity of droughts.
• Impacts: Droughts can have severe consequences for agriculture, leading to crop failures, livestock losses, and food insecurity. They can also cause water shortages, wildfires, and social unrest. Droughts can have long-lasting impacts on ecosystems, leading to desertification and loss of biodiversity.

Conflicts over Water

Water remains a highly disputed issue across South Asia, exacerbated by water scarcity, agrarian challenges, and the increasing demands from rapid industrialization. Over-extraction of groundwater is a significant issue, with an estimated 23 million pumps in use across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. This practice contributes to depletion and poses long-term sustainability challenges. Additionally, salinity and arsenic contamination affect over 60% of groundwater in the Indo-Gangetic plain, further compromising water quality and availability for millions. Climate change is altering water availability in critical basins like the Brahmaputra, reducing flow and impacting downstream users. This dynamic adds pressure to existing water-sharing agreements.

India-China Issues: China's plans for dam construction and water management on the Brahmaputra River (known as Yarlung Zangbo in China) have strained relations with India. Despite multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing communication and strategic trust, concerns persist over potential downstream impacts.

India-Bangladesh Water Issues: The sharing of the Teesta River, originating in the Himalayas and flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal before merging with the Brahmaputra (Jamuna in Bangladesh), remains a major point of contention between India and Bangladesh. This issue significantly affects agricultural productivity and bilateral relations.

India-Pakistan Water Dispute: Since partition, India and Pakistan have grappled with various water conflicts. Anticipating potential rivalry over shared rivers, both nations signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. This treaty allocates control over the region’s rivers, with India managing the eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej) and Pakistan overseeing the western rivers (Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum). Despite the treaty's role in mitigating major conflicts, occasional disputes arise concerning dam constructions and water use, underscoring ongoing tensions.

Dams - Benefits and Problems

Dams are large structures built across rivers or valleys to control and manage water flow. They serve various purposes, but their construction and operation also raise significant environmental and social concerns. Let's delve into the benefits and problems associated with dams:

Benefits of Dams:

1. Hydroelectric Power Generation: Dams are a major source of renewable energy. They use the power of flowing water to generate electricity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Irrigation: Dams store water, which can be released during dry seasons to irrigate agricultural fields, ensuring food security and boosting agricultural productivity.
3. Flood Control: Dams can regulate water flow during periods of heavy rainfall, preventing or mitigating downstream flooding and protecting communities and infrastructure.
4. Water Supply: Dams create reservoirs that provide a reliable source of water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
5. Navigation: Some dams facilitate navigation by creating deeper channels and allowing ships to bypass shallow or rocky sections of rivers.
6. Recreation: Reservoirs created by dams offer opportunities for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities, boosting tourism and local economies.

Problems Associated with Dams:

1. Environmental Impacts: Dams disrupt river ecosystems, altering flow patterns and sediment transport. This affects fish migration, aquatic habitats, and biodiversity.

2. Socio-economic Displacement: Building dams often requires displacing communities living in the reservoir area, leading to social and economic disruptions for affected populations.

3. Geological Risks: Dams can trigger seismic activity in seismically active regions due to the weight of the water and reservoir-induced stress on underlying rock formations.

4. Financial Costs: Construction, maintenance, and decommissioning of dams involve substantial financial investments. Over time, costs may exceed initial projections due to unforeseen challenges or required upgrades.

5. Climate Change Vulnerability: Dams are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as altered precipitation patterns and increased variability in river flows, affecting their operational efficiency and resilience.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to promote the production and use of green hydrogen as a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources through electrolysis of water, with zero carbon emissions during its usage.

Key Features and Objectives:

• Production Promotion: Encourage domestic production of green hydrogen at competitive prices.
• Technology Development: Foster research, development, and innovation in green hydrogen production technologies.
• Infrastructure Development: Establish infrastructure for storage, distribution, and utilization of green hydrogen across various sectors.
• Policy Support: Formulate supportive policies, regulations, and incentives to facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen technologies.
• International Collaboration: Engage in global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen technologies.

Implementation Status: As of 2024, the National Green Hydrogen Mission is in its early stages, focusing on pilot projects, technology demonstrations, a nd stakeholder consultations to set a framework for scaling up green hydrogen production and utilization in India.

FAME India Scheme

The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) India Scheme was launched to promote the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India, aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and curb vehicular emissions.

Key Features and Objectives:

• Financial Incentives: Provide financial incentives to buyers of xEVs to reduce the upfront cost and make them more affordable.
• Charging Infrastructure: Support the establishment of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) across the country.
• Technology Development: Promote indigenous manufacturing capabilities and technological innovations in the xEV sector.
• Awareness and Capacity Building: Conduct awareness campaigns and capacity-building initiatives to educate consumers and stakeholders about the benefits of xEVs.

Phases:

• FAME-I: Implemented from 2015 to 2019, focusing on demand creation through incentives for xEVs and charging infrastructure.
• FAME-II: Launched in 2019 with an enhanced budget of ₹11,500 crore, extending incentives to a broader range of xEVs, including buses, trucks, and two-wheelers, and expanding charging infrastructure across cities and highways.

Implementation Status: FAME-II incentives are valid for vehicles sold and registered until March 31, 2024. The scheme has played a crucial role in increasing the adoption of xEVs and strengthening the EV ecosystem in India. The government is currently considering FAME-III to continue supporting the transition towards sustainable mobility.