Opinion: Leakages in India’s water security

If India does not act now, the next decade could see a severe water crisis affecting not just agriculture and industry but also basic human survival

By Souryabrata Mohapatra, Sanjib Pohit

India is standing at the edge of a water crisis. While the government has allocated Rs 99,503 crore to the Ministry of Jal Shakti for 2025-26, the real concern is whether this money will translate into tangible improvements in water security. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019 to provide tap water to all rural households by 2024, has failed to meet its target. As of January 2025, only 80% of rural households have been covered, forcing an extension of the scheme until 2028.

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Water scarcity is not just a rural issue — it affects urban India as well. Several cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi, face periodic water shortages, exacerbated by poor planning, over-extraction of groundwater and increasing climate variability. The question remains: Will more money alone solve India’s water crisis, or do we need a fundamental shift in water governance and management?

A Tale of Inequality

While States like Goa, Gujarat, Haryana and Telangana have achieved full functional tap water coverage under JJM, others lag behind. In Jharkhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Kerala, less than 60% of rural households have received tap water connections. The disparities do not end with coverage — water quality and consistency remain major challenges.

According to the 2022 Functionality Assessment Report, only 62% of households with tap connections receive adequate, regular and potable water. In States like Kerala, Tripura and Sikkim, 40% of households receive water that fails to meet safety standards. This means that even where infrastructure exists, the water itself may be unsafe to drink. The issue is compounded by weak water quality monitoring.

The Mihir Shah Committee (2016) proposed the creation of a National Water Commission, merging Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board to improve coordination and governance. Eight years later, this reform remains unimplemented

In 2024-25, only 66 lakh water samples were tested across India, of which 3.3 lakh (5%) were found contaminated. Yet, remedial action was taken for only 59% of these cases. This lack of enforcement means that millions continue to consume unsafe water.

The Struggle for Funds 

A major roadblock to achieving full coverage is JJM’s funding mechanism. The scheme operates on a 50:50 cost-sharing model between the Centre and States (90:10 for Himalayan and Northeastern States). However, many States have struggled to contribute their share.

In 2024-25, only 31% of the central allocation was released due to delays in State contributions. This is a recurring issue — funds are released only after States contribute their share and utilise at least 75% of previously released funds. Many States fail to meet these requirements, leading to significant delays in project implementation.

The Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), which focuses on rural sanitation, faces similar challenges. Less than 50% of the funds allocated by the Centre between 2020 and 2023 was released to the States. If financing issues persist, both water and sanitation goals will continue to suffer, leaving millions without access to clean water and hygienic conditions.

Groundwater: The Silent Crisis

While policy discussions often focus on surface water sources like rivers and dams, India’s groundwater depletion is reaching catastrophic levels. Nearly 90% of extracted groundwater is used for irrigation, with much of it wasted due to inefficient farming practices.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY), launched in 2020 to promote sustainable groundwater management, has met only 60% of its targets. While Gujarat, Haryana and Karnataka have made some progress, Punjab and Rajasthan — two of India’s most water-stressed States —have utilised less than 50% of their allocated funds.

Despite these warning signs, water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane continue to dominate India’s agricultural landscape. These crops, largely grown in Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra, consume excessive amounts of groundwater. The Meri Pani Meri Virasat scheme in Haryana offers Rs 7,000 per acre to farmers who shift away from paddy, but such initiatives remain limited. Without a nationwide push for crop diversification and efficient irrigation methods, groundwater depletion will accelerate, threatening India’s long-term water security.

Namami Gange Paradox

The Namami Gange programme, launched in 2014 with a vision to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga, has fallen short of its goals. Despite a Rs 2,400 crore allocation for 2025-26, the programme suffers from low fund utilisation — only 52% of the targeted sewage treatment capacity has been built.

The biggest contributors to Ganga pollution are industrial waste and untreated sewage. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) 2024 noted that 450 industries along the Ganga are violating discharge norms, yet regulatory action has been weak.

Similarly, river interlinking projects hailed as a long-term solution to India’s uneven water distribution, have barely progressed. Out of 30 planned river-linking projects, only one — the Ken-Betwa Link Project — is under implementation. The lack of inter-State cooperation and environmental concerns have stalled progress, leaving many drought-prone regions without relief.

Need for Structural Reform

The Mihir Shah Committee (2016) proposed the creation of a National Water Commission, merging the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to improve coordination and governance. Eight years later, this reform remains unimplemented.

Currently, water governance is fragmented across multiple agencies, leading to poor coordination, data inconsistencies and policy paralysis. The Standing Committee on Water Resources (2023) emphasised that State governments often fail to share critical water data with the Centre, making policy planning difficult. Without an integrated approach, India’s water crisis will only worsen.

Call for Urgent Action

Water security is not just about budget allocations — it requires systemic reform, political will and community participation. India must

• Prioritise conservation over consumption: groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater recycling should be mandatory across States.
• Enforce stricter pollution control measures: Industries violating discharge norms should face hefty penalties and licence revocations.
• Promote water-efficient farming: The government must scale up incentives for farmers to adopt micro-irrigation and shift away from water-guzzling crops.
• Strengthen water governance: The Centre must push States to implement the National Water Commission, ensuring a unified and accountable management system.
• Ensure financial accountability: Delays in State fund contributions must be penalised, and unspent allocations should be reallocated to performing States.

If India does not act now, the next decade could see a severe water crisis affecting not just agriculture and industry but also basic human survival. The Budget may look promising, but without deeper reforms, we are simply pouring water into a leaking bucket.

 

(The authors are associated with NCAER, New Delhi. Views are personal)