Context

?3.5 trillion to be spent under Jal Jeevan Mission, The NDA government has formed a new ministry to address all water issues that looks at the management of water resources and drinking water supply

About

• Prime Minister flagged the growing water crisis in the country and said around ?3.5 trillion will be spent under the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission aimed at providing potable water.
• Providing safe drinking water to all parts of the country remains a priority.
• Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government will focus on rainwater harvesting and water conservation in 256 districts in the first phase and carry out other initiatives, including renovation of traditional water bodies and tanks, reuse of water and recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation.
• The NDA government has formed a new ministry to address all water issues that looks at the management of water resources and drinking water supply in a holistic manner. The Jal Shakti Ministry, formed by integrating the Water Resources and Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministries, aims to work with state governments to ensure Har Ghar Jal to all rural households by 2024.
• This assumes importance given that water crisis has presented itself as a clear and present danger to India. Policy think-tank Niti Aayog said in a report that nearly 600 million Indians already face “high to extreme water stress.
• Cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, will run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people.
• Matters are only likely to worsen with the country’s water demand likely to double by 2030, indicating there will be a 6% loss in gross domestic product by 2050.
• India’s most water-stressed blocks are in Tamil Nadu (541), followed by Rajasthan (218), Uttar Pradesh (139) and Telangana (137), with several states reeling from drought-like conditions.
• To encourage local participation, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan will be involved along with non-government organisations (NGOs) and students from local engineering colleges.