India's proverbial poverty is amongst plenty to a large extent, said Vice President of India, Mohammed Hamid Ansari. It happens when there is imbalance in the results from the hydro-metrological conditions creating unequal spatial distribution, non-utilisation and ill- planned utilisation of water resources.
Ansari was addressing a select audience at the centenary celebrations of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) at Khadakwasla, Pune.
The Vice President stressed upon some important points of concern that are responsible for water crisis:
India's large population has led to a stress on available water resources. The second cause is poor water quality resulting from insufficient and delayed investment in urban water treatment facilities. Water in most of the rivers in India is largely not fit for drinking. Industrial effluent standards are not enforced. The dwindling groundwater supplies due to over extraction. India has been extracting more ground water at an ever increasing rate. It is estimated that India extracted 251 bcm of groundwater in 2010 compared to 90 bcm in 1980.The VP emphasized that in view of the vital significance of water for human and animal life as well as to maintain ecological balance and for other sorts of economic and development activities of all kinds planning and management of water resources and its optimal, economical and equitable use has become a matter of the utmost urgency taking the matter into great consideration.