Overview
Indian cities from Bengaluru to Mussoorie are facing severe water stress. June 2026 recorded a monsoon deficit of over 40 %. Delhi can meet only about 70 % of its daily demand of 1,250 million gallons. A study by CEEW shows that 11 of 15 major river basins have water availability below 1,700 m³ per person, with basins such as Krishna, Cauvery, Mahi and Tapi falling below the scarcity threshold of 1,000 m³ per person.
Key Developments
- Invest in climate‑proofing of water infrastructure through granular risk assessments; cities like Thane and Navsari are earmarked for high‑risk upgrades.
- Leverage the Urban Challenge Fund – Visakhapatnam secured ₹1,501 crore for water supply and drainage in 2026.
- Promote treated‑wastewater reuse for non‑potable purposes; Thane Municipal Corporation aims to cut a freshwater deficit of 53 million L/day.
- Scale up micro‑irrigation to cover the remaining 80 % of the 72 million‑hectare irrigable potential.
- Close water‑data gaps with AI‑based monitoring and deployment of smart water meters in Delhi and Bhubaneswar.
Important Facts
- India holds only 4 % of global water resources but supports 18 % of the world’s population.
- Existing schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana have improved supply but face poor upkeep, high conveyance losses and low cost recovery.
- CEEW estimates that treated‑wastewater sales could generate ₹3 lakh c