Modi unveils plan to tackle water shortages in India

• The groundwater scheme aims to deliver clean water to 15 crore homes in 5 yrs

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday launched a Rs 6,000-crore groundwater management scheme change and said his government has set a target to deliver clean drinking water to 15 crore homes in the next five years through pipes.

The groundwater management scheme aims at bringing about behavioural changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The implementation of the scheme is expected to benefit nearly 8,350 gram panchayats in 78 districts in these states.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said that in 70 years, only three crore out of 18 crore rural households have access to piped water supply.

He requested the people of every village to make a water action plan and create a water fund. Farmers should make a water budget where groundwater is very low.

Modi said “water crisis is worrying for us as a family, as a citizen and as a country also it affects development. New India has to prepare us to deal with every situation of water crisis. For this, we are working together on five levels.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Jal Shakti (formerly Water Resources) Ministry freed water out of compartmentalised approach and laid stress on a comprehensive and holistic approach.

Out of the total outlay of Rs 6000 crore to be implemented over five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), 50 percent will be in the form of World Bank loan and the remaining through Indian government assistance from regular budgetary support.

According to UK-based charity WaterAid, about 163 million people in India - roughly 12% of the population - do not have access to clean water close to home.