Water Challenges In India:Seeking Solutions with an Integrated Approach

Rapidly expanding population and extensive urbanization have led to the demand for water growing swiftly from agriculture, energy, industry and domestic sectors. Other reasons such as, depletion of water sources, water pollution, inefficient usage, poor management of water supply systems and multiple institutional arrangements make the situation more complicated. System losses due to poor operation and maintenance, inaccurate metering, unbilled consumption, illegal tapping, etc. further add to unaccountable losses. Therefore, water resources need to be managed at numerous levels, with the involvement of numerous stakeholders and professionals from diverse disciplines.