Source: Economic Times
Context:
The Ganga River supports over 600 million people and contributes around 40% of India’s GDP. Recent studies indicate an unprecedented decline in river flow since the 1990s.
About Ganga River
- Origin: Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand.
- Length: ~2,525 km.
- Basin Area: ~1,08,000 sq km in India; 252,000 sq km including Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Significance: Supports over 600 million people, contributes ~40% of India’s GDP, crucial for agriculture, industry, and drinking water.
Key Findings:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Methodology | – Streamflow reconstruction using tree -ring data (Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas) and hydrological models. – Validated against historical droughts, famines, and modern observations. |
| Key Findings | – Post-1990s droughts are more frequent and severe than any in the past 1,300 years. – 2004–2010 drought ranks as the worst in over a millennium. – Post-1990s drying ~76% more intense than 16th-century drought. |
| Causes | – Weaker summer monsoons due to Indian Ocean warming and aerosol pollution. – Groundwater depletion, reducing baseflows. – Land-use changes and increased human water consumption. |
| Implications | – Water security threat for 600+ million people in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. – Agriculture, irrigation, and livelihoods severely affected. – Reveals limitations of current global climate models in predicting regional drying. |
| Recommendations | – Adopt adaptive water management policies considering natural and anthropogenic factors. – Strengthen river basin management and sustainable water-use practices. – Enhance climate and hydrological models for accurate forecasting. |
