Delhi largely depends on its neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to meet around 90 per cent of its drinking water demand. (PTI Photo)
Delhi, the second-most populous city after Tokyo in the world, with 33.8 million people, is once again grappling with an extreme water shortage. Amidst scorching weather, with temperatures hovering around 50° C, the Delhi government has turned to the Supreme Court (SC) for immediate intervention to resolve its escalating water crisis. It has sought directives for the state of Haryana to release additional water to alleviate the crisis and provide relief to millions of Delhiites.
Delhi largely depends on its neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to meet around 90 per cent of its drinking water demand. According to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the capital’s raw water supply comes from four primary sources — 40 per cent from the Yamuna, sourced through Haryana; 25 per cent from the Ganga; 22 per cent from the Bhakra Nangal Dam and the remaining 13 per cent from subsurface sources such as Ranney wells and tube-wells. This water is treated at nine water treatment plants (WTP) and supplied across the city through a 15,473 km long pipeline network and underground water reservoirs. The DJB’s Summer Bulletin revealed that Delhi’s total water production from May 21 to May 31 fluctuated between 977.79 and 993.76 million gallons per day (MGD). However, this falls significantly short of the daily demand of 1,290 MGD, or 60 gallons per capita. Simultaneously, water quality is also a concern in some areas, with high ammonia levels (over 2.5 ppm) and toxic waste from industrial drains contaminating the Yamuna. Despite oversight by pollution control boards and interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Yamuna remains one of India’s most polluted rivers, severely impacting Delhi’s clean water supply.
Impacting lives and livelihoods
In the thick of the political blame game, it is distressing to see visuals of women, children and young men risking their lives, desperately chasing after water tankers for a bucket of water. What is more concerning is the disparity in water supply between affluent neighbourhoods and slums where the underprivileged bear the brunt of the scarcity. While the wealthy enjoy uninterrupted running water in their homes and can afford private water tankers at exorbitant rates, those living hand-to-mouth lack such privileges. Consequently, marginalised communities living in unauthorised colonies are forced to rely on unsafe water sources for their daily needs, which can result in water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A and typhoid.
Furthermore, the inadequate water supply not only impedes the upkeep of adequate sanitation and hygiene but also brings out extensive social and economic repercussions. The prevalence of illness resulting from substandard hygiene and sanitation leads to a surge in healthcare expenses, weighing heavily on both individuals and government healthcare systems. Additionally, recurrent bouts of illness disrupt productivity as individuals are forced to miss work or school, jeopardising their economic stability and educational opportunities.
Various factors contributing to the crisis
Many factors contribute to the perpetuation of this ever-expanding crisis, including the over-extraction of groundwater, pollution of water sources, growth of the migrant population, adverse impacts of climate change, inefficient water management practices, and inter-state water disputes. In an attempt to bridge the demand-supply gap, the DJB has incrementally escalated groundwater extraction over the past five years. Reportedly, this extraction surged from 86 MGD in 2020 to about 135 MGD in 2024. The Central Groundwater Board (CGWB), in its ‘Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2023’ report released on December 1, 2023, disclosed that around 41.49 per cent of Delhi’s area of 1,487.61 square kilometres is considered “over-exploited” due to high levels of groundwater extraction. This relentless extraction of groundwater exacerbates the depletion of the water table. It is to be noted that the expansion of concrete structures across Delhi obstructs natural groundwater recharge zones, perpetuating a concerning imbalance between water recharge and extraction.
Against this backdrop, the Delhi Master Plan 2041 identifies water supply issues well but offers vague strategies and lacks clear targets. It fails to reduce reliance on external sources or prioritise rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse. Another crucial factor exacerbating the water crisis in Delhi, a phenomenon common globally but particularly acute in densely populated urban areas, is the escalating temperatures and scorching heat waves. Each 1° C increase caused by global warming is projected to result in a 20 per cent reduction in renewable water resources, according to the United Nations (UN). The Yamuna’s pollution levels at the Wazirabad pond have further compounded the issue. Surpassing the permissible ammonia limit in drinking water of 0.5 ppm, according to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the heightened levels have compromised the efficiency of the water treatment plant at Wazirabad by approximately 30 per cent, leading to disruptions in water production and low-pressure water supply. Yamuna’s quality of water, flow, and water holding capacity are further affected by the silt, sand, sediments, weeds and debris accumulated in its river bed.
Adding to the challenge, the most critical issue is the water-sharing dispute with Haryana. The Delhi government has often criticised the Haryana government for releasing less water than what was agreed upon in the 1994 MoU. In response, Haryana has maintained that Delhi is experiencing water scarcity due to internal mismanagement. Regardless of the technicalities involved, it’s undeniable that the ongoing political friction is inflicting unimaginable harm upon the citizens of this country, a responsibility that both governments must shoulder. In a country where people frequently migrate and settle in other states and Union Territories, governments must avoid politicising the vital issue of water sharing, as the lives of people from various states, including Haryana, who reside in Delhi, depend on a reliable and sufficient water supply. As Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of trusteeship suggests, political leaders are mere trustees of the public’s resources, and they must manage these resources judiciously and impartially, prioritising the needs of the people over political gains.
What next for Delhi?
According to the UN, the right to water entitles everyone to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. This is echoed in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of Clean Water and Sanitation for all. Furthermore, judicial precedents have also underscored the significance of this right. In the landmark case of Narmada Bachao Andolan vs. Union of India, (2000), the SC held that access to water is intrinsic to the right to life, and thus a fundamental right. The top court also emphasised that the “state is responsible for providing clean drinking water to the citizens.” However, India’s pursuit of these noble objectives remains a distant dream unless it can ensure an adequate water supply for the very residents of its capital.
The apex court has a chance in the petition filed by the Delhi government to settle once and for all the lingering issue of water supply from Haryana to Delhi. In addition to the forthcoming court ruling, Delhi must also take proactive steps towards self-reliance through sustainable policy and governance reforms with technological interventions, infrastructure development and alternate water conservation methods. Addressing leakages in water distribution pipes to minimise water wastage should be a priority.
Concurrently, the people should also take it as a collective responsibility to conserve water at home by inculcating responsible water consumption behaviours and actively participating in rainwater harvesting initiatives. In a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research, the authors highlight that an average roof of 60 m² in Delhi will collect 3,64,800 litres of water in a year (999.45 L/person/day) for an average family size of five people. This amount of water is sufficient to fulfil the demand for all domestic purposes and also a means for groundwater recharge. It’s time for collective action to secure a sustainable water future for Delhi and its residents.
Swarup is former coal and school education secretary of India and Singh is final year law student at RGNUL.
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First uploaded on: 03-06-2024 at 18:00 IST
