Relevance : GS Paper III (Ecology and Environment)
[700 words reduced to 170]
- The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) by the NITI Aayog, shows that 600 million people face high to extreme water stress in India.
- Findings of the report
- India ranks 120 among 122 countries in the water quality index.
- water crisis will lead to 6% loss in the country’s GDP 2030.
- The sector-wise requirement of water will rise steeply between.
- Water requirements of the energy sector
- share of water consumed is to rise up to 9% in 2050.
- 77% of India’s total electricity comes from thermal power plants dependent on freshwater sources.
- 40% of thermal plants installed in areas with high water-stress.
- competition between power and other sectors for water will increase
- Way forward to make the index better
- Reporting of daily water withdrawal and consumption
- Sharing of information about water stress
- Use of data by researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers
- Factoring in the water-energy nexus linkages
- CWMI will boost the country’s water achievements by fostering the spirit of ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’ among states.
