Integrated approach for water resources management in the Delhi region: problems and perspective

Different parts of Delhi region face water scarcity due to fast rising population, industrialization, zonal disparity in water supply and competition for economic development. The fact that water sources are highly polluted and inadequate, subsidies for domestic consumption are very high, and no pricing exists for groundwater extraction, leads to more consumption and wasteful utilization of water. Indiscriminate groundwater exploitation has resulted in a widespread decline in the water table and intermixing of fresh and contaminated water. Contemporary recharge from rainfall is small, and the major contributors to the groundwater are lateral flow from surrounding areas, infiltration of agricultural/urban runoff and seepage from the canal/river. The choice lies between tapping a minimal renewable resource or exploiting a nonrenewable resource till exhausted. Water management must be linked with changing land use, harmonizing medium and long-term actions, balancing and restricting indiscriminate groundwater withdrawal by recharge, improving the operation and maintenance of the water distribution network, and capacity building of local people.