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Source: PIB
Context:
NITI Aayog has released a report titled “Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks” to strengthen local-level water security, improve resource planning, and align with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The report highlights water availability, demand assessment, and block-specific recommendations using a digital water budgeting platform.
What is Water Budgeting?
- A structured, data-driven method of estimating water demand across multiple sectors.
- Sectors covered:
Human consumption, livestock, agriculture, industry - Considers supply from:
Runoff, groundwater, surface water, inter-basin transfers
Key Highlights of the Report
Scope of the Study
- Covers 18 Aspirational Blocks across 11 States.
- Represents 8 different agro-climatic zones, showing wide variation in water endowments and challenges.
- Jointly prepared by NITI Aayog and GIZ India.
Technology Platform – Varuni
- A web-based water budgeting platform used for:
- Block-level planning
- Data integration
- Identifying demand–supply gaps
- Mapping water consumption hotspots
- Supports digitised governance and outcome-based planning.
- Focuses on scientific planning of water availability rather than reactive measures.
Diagnostic Insights
- Each block receives a detailed analysis of:
- Water demand vs. supply status
- Seasonal variability
- Sector-wise stress areas
- Block-specific challenges
- Customised recommendations for drinking water and multi-sector water sustainability
Findings
- Severe water deficits exist in several blocks: Namchi (94%), Gangiri (60%), Baldeogarh (53%).
- Kotri and Abu Road (Rajasthan) are over-extracting groundwater beyond recharge levels.
- Some regions, e.g., Fatehpur (Bihar), generate runoff but underutilize stored water.
Planning Approach
- Water budgets estimate inflows (rainfall, surface storage, groundwater recharge, inter-basin transfers) versus demand (domestic, agricultural, livestock, industrial).
- Aligns with global best practices: Israel, Australia, California – data-driven water management improves long-term resilience.
Why Are Aspirational Blocks Important?
- Represent resource-stressed regions with socio-economic vulnerabilities.
- Provide a micro-level window into India’s diverse water challenges.
- Help tailor interventions for equitable water distribution and local resilience.
Major Recommendations
- Agriculture consumes 80–90% of freshwater, reforms like crop diversification, micro-irrigation, and conjunctive use are essential.
- Dynamic, annually updated water budgets needed due to erratic monsoons, droughts, and floods.
- Capacity building at block level and better hydrological data systems required.
- Cultural shift to view water as a finite resource rather than endlessly renewable.
- Promote community participation for measurable water outcomes.
- Adopt block-specific interventions such as:
- Rainwater harvesting
- Aquifer recharge
- Efficient irrigation (micro-irrigation, crop diversification)
- Greywater reuse
- Strengthening drinking water sources
- Enhance convergence across:
Jal Jeevan Mission, MGNREGA, agriculture schemes, watershed development programmes.
