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IIM Kashipur

Master of Business Administration

Workshop on Critical Thinking

Term I Academic Year 2024-25

Group Assignment (Group-2)

WATER CRISIS IN INDIA METRO CITIES: WHAT WENT WRONG

Section B (Batch of 2024-26)

Submitted to: Prof. Aniruddha Jena

Submitted on: 1st Aug 2024

Team:

Mrunalini Motipally - MBA24119

Reet Gupta – MBA24134

Rahul Batavia – MBA24132

Panchajanya Das – MBA24127

Alan Babu – MBA24087

Shubham Sakhuja - MBA24145

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INDEX

S.No Content Page No.

1 Introduction

2 Scope of Report

3 Underlying Causes of Water crisis

4 Impact on Residents

6 Policy and Planning failure

7 Proposed solutions

8 Conclusion

9 References

Introduction:
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The importance of creating efficient water management in metro cities is the need of the hour.
Several Cities are facing a water crisis during the summertime and the Number of cities that
have efficient water management systems is negligible.

Water plays an important role in the city's functioning such as construction, industrial as well
as services functioning and day-to-day activities of residents. So, a possible water crisis will
affect the daily functioning of the city. The reasons that lead to the water crisis are numerous
such as inefficient water management, overusing of groundwater, uncontrolled construction,
and deforestation and exploitation of water bodies. So, the Solution to the water crisis
problem is multidimensional with several stakeholders in play (Gupta, A.K., Madan, A. and
Acharya, P. (2022).

Scope of the report

Considering the multidimensionality of the problem an in-depth analysis of the water crisis
especially in the metro cities settings is needed. Due to the high interlinking complexities
such as high population density and increased infrastructure solving the water crisis problem
in metro cities are often challenging. So, categorizing these interlinking points and finding
the relation between them is a key to understanding and solving the problem.

To understand the in-depth analysis, the topics that will be discussed in this report will be
Underlying Causes, Impact on the Residents, and Policy and Planning failure with Proposed
solutions that will address the water crisis in the metro cities.

Underlying Water Crisis:

Severe water scarcity is a major issue in cities like Mumbai, Jaipur, Bhatinda, Lucknow,
Nagpur, and Chennai in India. A report from Niti Aayog in 2018 predicts that 21 big cities,
such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi, will exhaust their groundwater supply,
impacting 100 million individuals. According to Niti Aayog's composite Water Index Scores,
effective water resource management is only found in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and
Gujarat. A report by WaterAid in 2018 indicates that the swift growth of cities will lead to
even higher levels of water usage. (Ghosh, 2021)

The problems with the city's water supply include amount and standard, fair allocation,
insufficient sanitation, and obsolete wastewater control. Quickly expanding cities deplete
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resources from areas surrounding urban areas, frequently lacking adequate investment or
planning. (Ghosh, 2021) Groundwater is being used recklessly, leading to damage to the
environment. Using land and water sustainably, especially groundwater, is necessary for
successful urban and peri-urban development (Janakarajan et al., 2005).

Water disputes in Indian urban areas mainly result from a lack of enough water caused by a
mismatch between the amount needed and the amount provided, made worse by ineffective
water distribution systems. These disputes can be classified into three primary categories:

Conflicts over quantity: Disagreements occur between various sectors or users, like city
governments versus industries, privileged individuals versus the underprivileged, urban
residents versus those in peri-urban areas, and current versus future generations. (Janakarajan
et al., 2005)
Conflicts related to quality: The quality of water plays a significant role in limiting clean
water access and causing waterborne illnesses, impacting lower-income individuals who lack
resources for water treatment. (Ghosh, 2021) City governments frequently receive complaints
from residents in the area regarding the expensive prices and negative health effects.
(Janakarajan et al., 2005)
Access disputes arise due to legal problems, pricing, and physical barriers, causing unequal
access. Compensation mechanisms frequently signal the existence of a conflict. (Janakarajan
et al., 2005)

Impact on Residents:

Water scarcity in locations like highly bustling cities has a huge impact on daily activities,
public health, economic activities, mental peace, and on a larger picture social equality.

The weak monsoon season has resulted in a depletion of groundwater levels and there is a
daily shortfall of 200 million litres in the water supply.

Daily Life of Residents:

There is a severe disruption in the daily routine of residence. For instance, in Bangalore, the
water is supplied at specified intervals every day. Basic activities like cooking, washing, and
cleaning get hampered due to restricted water supply. Also, residents will have to be available
at their houses whenever the water is supplied this affects their work timings.
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Public Health:

Due to scarcity of water, there is a direct impact on the availability of potable water. Poor
sanitation and hygiene levels increase the risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera,
dysentery, and typhoid. The people living on the city's outskirts tend to be the most
vulnerable to contaminated water during crisis times. In cities like Delhi, the river Yamuna is
no longer reliable for having fresh water. The water crisis on a whole takes a severe toll on
public health.

Economic Activities:

The water crisis has impacted the economic stability of the residents of metropolitan cities to
a greater extent both actively and passively. The cost of living spiked due to the necessity to
purchase water from private suppliers. Real estate has also seen a fair share of price declines
in water-scarce areas and the prices of water-adequate areas rose exponentially. There is an
increased economic burden primarily on the people from lower sections of the economy
hindering them from investing the money in a more meaningful purpose like education,
health, etc. This highlights the urge to move towards stainable water management solutions to
ensure that the other metropolitans do not follow the path of Bangalore and Delhi.

Social Equity:

The water crisis also leads to significant social inequalities. It is often observed in
metropolitan cities that the bore wells that serve as a source of freshwater go as deep as 1500
to 2000 feet. Wealthier neighbourhoods have access to deeper borewells refraining, middle-
class families from having access to groundwater. This disparity exacerbates existing social
inequalities as marginalized groups bear the brunt of the crisis.

Apart from this families from well-to-do backgrounds can afford to purchase private tankers,
whereas the poor cannot afford necessities like fresh water and will have to depend on the
sporadic and insufficient municipal supply. This makes them dejected from society and has a
huge mental impact on the children from those families.

Policy and Planning Failure:

Inadequate Water Governance and Policy Implementation:

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The problem of fragmented policies and weak implementation of policies pertaining to water
management in India exists. There are many agencies in this scenario, and they act
autonomously without cooperation, which results in conflicting decisions. However, even the
best formulated policies regularly do not work due to red tape, rampant corruption, and
negligence in their implementation.

Overreliance on Groundwater and Poor Regulation:

Deficit in the usage of water from the ground has become a major problem due to
overdependence on this resource. Excessive drawdown over the years has resulted in the
draining of aquifers besides which borewell intervention has not been well regulated. As
mentioned above, the problem of weak governance exacerbates the situation; ambiguous
policies that are unable to control the extraction of groundwater. Their pricing strategy is
quite irrational to set very low prices for water making people use it sparingly.

Urbanization and Infrastructure Failures:

The situation in Bengaluru and Delhi is the most alarming when it comes to the ratio of
population and infrastructure where these two cities have further dilated the population to
infrastructure ratio in the recent past due to rapid urbanization. In the years, the numbers of
people of the urban area also increased a lot, and the enlargement of the necessary facilities
for them for the most part still remains unpublished, taking into account the need for water.
The layout development particularly the newly constructed ones have either unavailable and
or unreasonable piped water connections hence rely on non-renewable sources of water such
as borehole.

Climate Change and Poor Adaptation Strategies:

The monsoon has become unpredictable due to climate change and cities have to deal with
both harsh amounts of rainfall and also drought. In light of such behavior transformation and
unpredictability, the strategy of adaptation has to be strengthened. With regard to the
mentioned problem there is a lack of integrated approach to flood risk management in urban
areas even if some metropolitan centres invest in the flood forecasting and warning.

Lack of Integrated River Basin Management:

Water management should be structured around a basin because all components of a basin are
system interconnects. But today’s politics work most often in terms of administrative areas,
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not cultural watersheds. This results in formulation of many and unrelated policies within one
and the same basin, a situation that is evident instigates conflict.

Data Gaps and Monitoring Challenges:

Water management depends on credible data, although a key void endures. Many pieces of
information, for instance basin-wise rainfall data, runoff analysis, and the maps of the ground
water are not available and therefore, the formulation of water policies cannot be well
informed. Also, there are few elaborate monitoring systems hence adequate assessment of
policies cannot be made, nor social accountability be demanded from responsible authorities.
Proposed solutions:

To effectively tackle the problem the water crisis in Indian metro cities like Bengaluru and
Delhi, here are some proposed solutions.

1. Holistic Water Management Approaches

a. Implement Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): Adopt a unified strategy to

manage water resources that addresses social, economic, and environmental needs, ensuring
coordination across different sectors and stakeholders.

b. Perform Water Audits and Predict Demand: Conduct thorough water audits to determine
actual usage, waste, and supply deficits. Utilize this data to anticipate future needs and plan
accordingly.

c. Enhance Water Recycling and Reuse: Invest in technologies that support recycling and
reuse of water, especially for non-potable purposes like irrigation and industrial use. Promote
greywater recycling at both household and community levels.

2. Infrastructure Upgrades and Maintenance

a. Modernize Water Supply Infrastructure: Upgrade outdated infrastructure to minimize leaks

and improve water distribution efficiency. Invest in modernizing pipelines, treatment plants,
and storage facilities.

b. Develop Decentralized Water Systems: Adopt decentralized solutions such as rainwater

harvesting, local aquifer recharge, and small-scale treatment systems to lessen reliance on
central supply networks.
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c. Integrate Green Infrastructure: Incorporate green infrastructure elements like permeable

pavements, green roofs, and urban wetlands to enhance natural water absorption and reduce
runoff.

3. Focus on Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

a. Develop Comprehensive Water Plans: Create and implement long-term plans for water
management that consider factors such as population growth, climate change, and
technological progress.

b. Support Research and Innovation: Encourage research into new technologies and methods
for water conservation and management. Stay updated on advancements and integrate
relevant innovations.

c. Monitor and Assess Effectiveness: Establish monitoring systems to evaluate the success of
water management strategies and make necessary data-driven adjustments.

Conclusion:

The water crisis in major Indian cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi highlight the critical need
for effective water resource management. Rapid urbanization, over-reliance on groundwater,
and poor planning have exacerbated the scarcity of this vital resource, leading to significant
social, economic, and health impacts. The Niti Aayog report and WaterAid findings
underscore the urgency of addressing this crisis through sustainable practices.

The challenges are multifaceted, involving issues of quantity, quality, and equitable access to
water. Conflicts over water resources are becoming more common, reflecting deeper systemic
issues in governance and infrastructure. Effective solutions require a holistic approach that
includes modernizing water supply infrastructure, implementing integrated water resource
management, and fostering long-term planning and sustainability.

To avert a worsening crisis, policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize water

conservation, equitable distribution, and innovative management strategies. Only through
coordinated efforts can cities ensure a sustainable water future and improve the quality of life
for all residents.
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References:

 Qureshi, B. I. (2024, March 14). Bengaluru: Water crisis shakes India’s Silicon
Valley. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68509409

 Harsha, J. (2019, December 13). Not many lessons learnt from water planning
failures. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/not-many-lessons-
learnt-from-water-planning-failures/article30289651.ece

 SIWI. (2023, March 13). The Water Crisis In India: Everything You Need To Know |
SIWI - Leading expert in water governance. SIWI - Leading Expert in Water
Governance. https://siwi.org/latest/water-crisis-india-everything-need-know/

 World Bank Group. (2023, August 18). India: Managing the complex problem of
floods and droughts. World Bank.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/08/17/india-managing-the-
complex-problem-of-floods-and-droughts

 Dowerah, S., & Dowerah, S. (2024, April 10). Why Bengaluru water crisis is haunting
real estate sector in Mumbai and Delhi. Firstpost.
https://www.firstpost.com/business/why-bengaluru-water-crisis-is-haunting-real-
estate-sector-in-mumbai-and-delhi-13758288.html

 Ghosh, P. (2021). Water stress and water crisis in large cities of India. In Advances in
geographical and environmental sciences (pp. 131–138). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-
981-15-8237-0_11

 Arasu, S. (2024b, March 17). India’s Bengaluru is fast running out of water, and a
long, scorching summer still looms | AP News. AP News.
https://apnews.com/article/bengaluru-water-crisis-climate-change-india-
17554235dba0741a266f2251b91aec8f
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 Janakarajan, S., Llorente, M., & Zérah, M. (2005). Urban water conflicts in Indian
cities: Man-made scarcity as a critical factor. Assets Publishing Service UK.
http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/PDF/Outputs/Water/R8324-UNESCOpap.pdf

 Gupta, A.K., Madan, A. and Acharya, P. (2022). Water Crisis in Indian Cities: A
Systemic Failure or Wrath of Changing Climate. National Institute of Disaster
Management, Delhi, India. Pages 22
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