Abstract
Almost the whole of India is currently witnessing a massive drought due to the relentless increase in water demand to cater its more than one billion people alongside the growing demand for water for agricultural activities, industries and other allied activities. However, there is a lack of research focusing on water scarcity in India. Central Water Commission data shows that water levels in 91 major reservoirs have reached staggeringly low. This chapter, however, aims to assess the water supply system in Delhi, the capital city of India and the world’s third largest conurbation after Tokyo and Mumbai. Currently, there are nine major Water Treatment Plants (WTP) in Delhi, National Capital Territory responsible for catering water to its 16.8 million people. Using Geographical Information System (GIS) alongside the 2011 Census data of Delhi and taking into account the water supply norm of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which is 60 Gallon Per Capita per Day (GPCD), a simple metric is developed to calculate the freshwater demand of its people residing within the command area of each WTP. For this, the 2011 Census population size of each WTP is multiplied by 60 GPCD to retrieve the approximate water demand of the people residing in each WTP, which in turn allows us to seek the amount of water scarcity/surplus for each of the WTP command area. Based on the findings and the current understanding of the guiding indicators of water scarcity, we map for possible solutions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Urban Water Supply in India, The World Bank, Retrieved from: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2011/09/22/urban-water-supply-india.
- 2.
Water Security Pilot Projects, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Retrieved from: http://www.mdws.gov.in/water-security-pilot-projects.
- 3.
Jal Kranti Abhiyan, Step by step implementation Guide, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Retrieved from: http://wrmin.nic.in/writereaddata/JalKrantiAbhiyan_StepByStepGuide.pdf.
- 4.
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, retrieved from:http://tsc.gov.in/tsc/nba/nbahome.aspx.
- 5.
Live storage capacity refers to that part of the reservior which could be used for production of power, flood control, navigation and downstream releases.
- 6.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Retrieved from: http://wrmin.nic.in/Default.aspx.
- 7.
Supreme Court dismisses MCA’s plea against moving matches out of Maharashtra (2016, 27 April). The Times of India, Sports. Retrieved from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/ipl/news/Supreme-Court-dismisses-MCAs-plea-against-moving-matches-out-of-Maharashtra/articleshow/52007508.cms.
- 8.
Over 3,000 farmer suicides in the last 3 years (2015, 22 April). The Hindu. Retrieved from: http://www.thehindu.com/data/over-3000-farmers-committed-suicide-in-the-last-3-years/article7130686.ece.
- 9.
NCRB DATA: 2,568 farmers ended lives—another highest (2015, 20 July). The Indian Express. Retrieved from: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ncrb-data-2568-farmers-ended-lives-another-highest/.
- 10.
Countries in the world by population (2016). Worldometers. Retrieved from: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/.
- 11.
Vienna Tops Latest Quality of Living Rankings (2015, 4 March). Mercer. Retrieved from: http://www.uk.mercer.com/newsroom/2015-quality-of-living-survey.html and Four out of world’s five most polluted cities in India: WHO report (2016, 12 May). Hindusthan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/four-out-of-top-five-polluted-cities-are-in-india-delhi-not-among-them/story-Gn2htcLbESB3BpeYJ4mY8K.html?utm_source = browser&utm_medium = push_notification&utm_campaign = PushCrew_notification_1463019233&_p_c.
- 12.
Top priority to open supply today: Haryana cop on Delhi water crisis (2016, 21 February). Hindusthantimes. Retrieved from:http://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/jat-stir-in-haryana-may-dry-up-delhi-aap-govt-moves-sc-over-water-crisis/story-nPdIGg1yKq9cGB3LjsdkZI.html.
- 13.
100-day AAP govt: Free 20 kl water, low charges Delhi Jal Board’s feats (2015, 24 May). The Financial Express. Retrieved from: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/100-day-aap-govt-free-20-kl-water-low-charges-delhi-jal-boards-feats/75339/.
- 14.
AAP govt: Free 20 kl water, low charges Delhi Jal Board’s feats (2015, 24 May). The Financial Express. Retrieved from: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/100-day-aap-govt-free-20-kl-water-low-charges-delhi-jal-boards-feats/75339/.
- 15.
Figures in the parentheses indicate the values of NRW levels.
- 16.
Stated NRW (Non-Revenue Water) Rates in Urban Networks (2011). Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN). Retrieved from: http://www.swan-forum.com/uploads/5/7/4/3/5743901/stated_nrw_rates_in_urban_networks_-_swan_research_-_august_2011.pdf.
- 17.
Database, New Delhi. Retrieved from: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/people/People-urban_database_delhi_individ.htm?#yudhavir.
References
Annual Report (2014–2015) Ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Accessed from: http://wrmin.nic.in/forms/list.aspx?lid=451
Arnold CA (Tony) (2009) Water privatization trends in the United States: human rights, national security, and public stewardship. William Mary Environ Law Policy Rev 33:785–849
Bardies G (2012) Well-managed Tokyo Waterworks Reach New NRW Benchmark, Country Focus. Accessed from: http://www.shpmedia.com/images/AW_MayJune12_Country%20Focus-Tokyo_V3.pdf
Bathla S, Kannan E (2016) Water will continue to be scarce. The Hindu. Accessed from: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-on-water-drought-by-seema-bathla-elumalai-kannan-water-will-continue-to-be-scarce/article8520173.ece
Bhattacharya P, Borah R (2014) Drinking water in Guwahati city: its past, present status and associated problems. Space Cult, India 1(3):65–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.20896/saci.v1i3.46
Bhattacharyya R (2015) Working childhoods: youth, agency and the environment in India. Prog Dev Stud 15(3):292–294. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464993415578570
Bhattacharyya R (2017) Sociologies of India’s missing children. Asian Soc Work Policy Rev 11(1):90–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/aswp.12116
Bhattacharyya R (2019) Child sponsorship: exploring pathways to a brighter future. Prog Dev Stud 19(1):83–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464993418799895
Bhattacharyya R (2014) Good governance and development mandate. J Space Cult, India 2(1):1–4. https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v2i1.65
Brown A, Matlock MD (2011) A Review of Water Scarcity Indices and Methologies, Food, Beverage and Agriculture, White paper No. 106, © 2011 The Sustainability Consortium, Accessed from: https://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/wp-content/themes/sustainability/assets/pdf/whitepapers/2011_Brown_Matlock_Water-Availability-Assessment-Indices-and-Methodologies-Lit-Review.pdf
Census of India (2011) Primary Census Data Highlights - NCT of Delhi. Accessed from: http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/PCA_Highlights/pca_highlights_file/Delhi/DATA_SHEET_PCA_DISTRICTS_NCT_OF_DELHI.pdf
Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
David G, Sadoff CW (2007) Sink or swim? Water Secur Growth Dev, Water Policy 9:545–571. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2007.021
Delhi Jal Board, Government of NCT of Delhi
Dinar A, Rosegrant MW, Meinzen-Dick RS (1997) Water allocation mechanisms: principles and examples. World Bank Policy Research, Working Paper No. 1779
Dyson J (2008) Harvesting Identities: youth, work, and gender in the Indian Himalayas. Ann Assoc Am Geogr 98(1):160–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/00045600701734554
Eckstein G (2009) Water scarcity, Conflict, and Security in a Climate Change World: Challenges and Opportunities for International Law and Policy. Wis Int Law J 27(3):409–461
Economic Survey of Delhi (2014–2015) Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Accessed from: http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT_Planning/planning/economic+survey+of+dehli/economic+survey+of+delhi+2014+-+2015
Gain AK, Giupponi C (2015) A dynamic assessment of water scarcity risk in the lower Brahmaputra river basin: an integrated approach. Ecol Ind 48:120–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.07.034
Gain AK, Immerzeel WW, SpernaWeiland FC, Bierkens MFP (2011) Impact of climate change on the stream flow of the lower Brahmaputra: trends in high and low flows based on discharge-weighted ensemble modelling. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 15:1537–1545. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-15-1537-2011
Gilbert N (2010) Balancing water supply and wildlife. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2010.505
Gleick P (1996) Human population and water: To the limits in the 21st Century. Human Population and Water, Fisheries, and Coastal Areas. American Association for the Advancement of Science Symposium, 1995, Washington, D.C
Glennon R (2005) Water scarcity, marketing, and privatization. Tex Law Rev 83(7):1873–1902
Hoekstra AY, Mekonnen MM, Chapagain AK, Mathews RE, Richter BD (2012) Global monthly water scarcity: blue water footprints versus blue water availability. PLoS ONE 7(2):e32688. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032688
Human Development Report (2006) Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis, United Nations Development Programme, Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Mandal J, Sanyal S (2019) Geospatial analysis of fluoride concentration in groundwater in Puruliya District, West Bengal. J Space Cult, India 6(5):1–16. https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v6i5.369
Mekonnen Mesfin M, Hoekstra Arjen Y (2016) Four billion people facing Severe water scarcity. Sustain, Adv Sci 2(e150032):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500323
Mohan V (2015) Half of India is Drought-hit, but States Yet to Seek Central Help. The Times of India. Accessed from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Half-of-India-is-drought-hit-but-states-yet-to-seek-central-help/articleshow/49838565.cms
National Water Policy (2012) Ministry of water resources, Government of India. Accessed from: http://wrmin.nic.in/writereaddata/NationalWaterPolicy/NWP2012Eng6495132651.pdf
Pulla V, Ahmed Z, Pawar M (2018) Water and communities in South Asia: a case for regional cooperation. Space Cult, India, 6(3):23–40. https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v6i3.392
Rainwaterharvesting.org. Accessed 14 May 2015 from, http://rainwaterharvesting.org/
Singh S (2015) Increased Burden on women and male out-migration: an analysis of Khul gad micro watershed of the Kumoun Himalaya. Int J Soc Work Hum Serv Pract 3(3):118–123. https://doi.org/10.13189/ijrh.2015.030303
Singh SB (2015) Women as milieu managers in integrated watershed management: perspectives from the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. J Space Cult, India 2(4):71–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.20896/saci.v2i4.130
Singh S (2014) Women, environment and sustainable development: a case study of Khul Gad Micro Watershed of Kumoun Himalaya. Space Cult, India, 1(3):53–64. http://dx.doi.org//10.20896/saci.v1i3.45
Srinivasulu Rajendran (2008) Water Scarcity Chennai: Financ-Econ Apprais Rain Water Harvest. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1152239
Statistical Handbook (2015) Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Accessed from: http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_des/DES/Our+Services/Statistical+Hand+Book/
Study on improvement of water supply system in Delhi in the Republic of India (2011) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Urban Development National Capital Territory of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board
Suresh TS (2001) An Urban Water Scenario: A Case Study of the Bangalore Metropolis, Karnataka, India, Regional Management of Water Resources (Proceedings of a symposium held during the Sixth IAHS Scientific Assembly at Maastricht, The Netherlands, July 2001). IAHS Publ. no. 268
World Water Development Report (2015) Water in a sustainable world, UN water. Accessed from: http://www.unwater.org/publications/publications-detail/en/c/281166/
Acknowledgements
We express our deep sense of gratitude to Professor (Dr.) R. B. Singh and Dr. Subhash Anand, IGU Commission on Geoheritage, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 for giving us the opportunity to contribute this article on water scarcity in Delhi. And a ‘Big Thank You’ to Dhritman Biswa Sarma for copy-editing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bhattacharyya, R., Prasad, S. (2020). Water Scarcity in Delhi: Mapping for Solutions and the Way Forward. In: Singh, R., Srinagesh, B., Anand, S. (eds) Urban Health Risk and Resilience in Asian Cities. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1205-6_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1205-6_24
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1204-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-1205-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)