With the ongoing water crisis in Bengaluru, numerous tech professionals have temporarily moved to Mysuru. But out of the 30 Indian cities at risk of ‘severe water scarcity’ by 2050 according to the WWF's report, 26 are mid-size or small cities like Dhanbad, Nashik, & Jabalpur. On the eve of World Water Day 2024, Nagrika throws light on overlooked municipalities & their water issues!

Despite proximity to Tungabhadra Reservoir, Hosapete, Koppal & Ballari face erratic water supply during summers due to siltation & groundwater contamination from industrial pollutants. According to the NGT committee’s Factual & Action Taken Report, Mussoorie is likely to exhaust drinking water resources by 2052. At the site of Kempegowda International Airport, Devanahalli MC resorted to hiring water tankers as 32 borewells in the town had dried up.

Population growth, rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, & overreliance on groundwater has exacerbated water scarcity. Smaller cities lack robust water supply systems & struggle with institutional inadequacies, along with the absence of centralized sewage systems. However, Devanahalli has begun utilizing Bengaluru’s treated wastewater blended with rainwater in two of its lakes to supply 0.2 million liters of water per day to households. Similarly, Noida has been selected as a ‘water warrior’ city by the Jal Shakti Ministry for its waste water reutilization for irrigation purposes.

Inclusive water governance is crucial for tackling scarcity amid the growing pressures on our collective environmental resources. In Kangra, the ‘Catch the Rain’ Campaign aims to mitigate groundwater depletion with approved schemes for Dehra, Palampur, & Jwalaji. Rainwater harvesting structures are also underway in Dharamshala. In Mysuru, the Jal Diwali Campaign empowered SHGs to collectively address water conservation challenges. A green-strategic MoU between Rajasthan & Denmark aims to support sustainable urban water development in Jaipur, Bhilwara, & Nawalgarh.

Are there any water-related problems or shortages in your city? How have city authorities addressed water scarcity challenges?