India - Water Conflicts Flashcards
Why is India water scarce?
1) Monsoon climate, this is due to the movement of the ITCZ, this means that it brings variable rainfall - there is little supply during December-May
2) Changing discharge - in the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra - this varies seasonally due to the monsoon and snow melting in the Himilayas
3) Aquifers in the North means they have a good water supply
What are the months were monsoon occurs?
June-October
What are the water resources contaminated with?
Bio and chemical pollutants
Which areas are left out from the water?
Rural areas
What percentage of the country’s diseases are water-related?
21%
What percentage of the country has access to traditional sanitation?
33%
What does India lack?
Long-term availability to replenishable water resources
What are aquifers associated with?
Replenishing sources
What do rural communities do to access groundwater supplies?
Drill wells
Why is there a water crisis?
Due to the lack of government planning
Why is water scarcity expected to worsen?
As the population increases
Some areas have a wet climate but there are no water catchment programs in place, what happens to the water?
The water is displaced or dried up instead of used - needs to be used as people are desperate for good water supplies
How much of the population are facing acute water shortages?
Around a quarter
What group of people are committing suicide as a result of the water shortages?
Farmers
How many people in India depend on agriculture for a living with no irrigation?
600 million - they rely on the rain
Which months bring three-quarters of total annual rainfall?
June-September - known to be eratic
How much is the water table falling by?
0.3 metres - as much as 4 metres in some places
What is the problem?
Isn’t the lack of water, it is the reckless overuse
China with a larger population use how much less water than India?
28% less
What are they encouraging?
Rain water harvesting techniques
How much is the diversion scheme for drought-prone regions going to cost?
$165 billion
Artificial waterways are set to link how many rivers?
37
The prime minister has pledged to double farm income by what year?
2022
Building what on the riverbeds will improve groundwater levels?
Check dams
There is hardly any … left to retain the water
Soil
They are yet to learn how to do what?
Conserve water - they have plenty of rainfall but the only thing missing is water to drink
