Govt draws up list of local bodies facing water crisis

In the second phase, between October 1 and November 30, the guidelines will be implemented in 260 ULBS in 55 districts.

According to government think-tank NITI Aayog, India is facing water crisis with around 50% population experiencing high-to-extreme water shortage.

“In order to address water scarcity, it is important to undertake efforts for conservation, restoration, recharge and reuse of water. In this pursuit, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) is participating actively in the Jal Shakti Abhiyan along with states and union territories and Urban Local Bodies,” an official working closely with the project at the ministry of urban affairs said on condition of anonymity. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is India’s newly launched water mission.

The ministry has identified four main areas under the programme: Rain Water Harvesting (RWH), reuse of treated waste water, rejuvenation of water bodies, and plantation.

“The crux of this drive is building large scale awareness campaign so that conservation of water becomes a Jan Andolan (popular movement),” the official added.

The most affected districts identified by the Centre lie in Uttar Pradesh (35) with 84 ULBS followed by Rajasthan (29) with 111 ULBS and Telangana (24) with 29 ULBS. These areas have been identified as the most water stressed ULBS and will be covered in the first phase.

The second phase has water stressed ULBS affected by returning monsoon with the most districts being in Tamil Nadu (27), Karnataka (18) and Andhra Pradesh (9).

The ministry has asked ULBS to engage with Resident Welfare Associations, schools, businesses, Civil Society Organizations (CSOS), Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYKS), NSS volunteers, NCC cadets and others to organize a door- to-door outreach, community events and workshops for dissemination and building awareness for all four enlisted water conservation measures in urban areas.

The ministry has also asked ULBS to enforce building by-laws as per the provisions of the model building by-laws (MBBL) 2016 to ensure that the rain water harvesting provisions are incorporated. And it wants them to also monitor this closely.

The ministry has proposed the creation of a Rain Water Harvesting Cell which will be