President Murmu’s Stark Warning on India’s Water Crisis
In a compelling address at the National Water Conference, President Droupadi Murmu declared water a “sacred, finite national resource” and called for urgent innovation in agricultural water use. She stressed that sustainable water management is both an environmental necessity and a moral duty to future generations.
India’s Water Scarcity: By the Numbers
With 18% of the global population but only 4% of its freshwater, India faces severe water stress. Agriculture consumes 80% of the nation’s water, while climate change and groundwater depletion worsen the crisis. Murmu cited dire projections: 21 cities, including Delhi and Bengaluru, may exhaust groundwater by 2030, and 600 million Indians already endure high water stress.
4 Key Innovations to Transform Farm Water Use
President Murmu outlined actionable solutions to reduce water waste in agriculture:
- Micro-Irrigation Expansion: Scale up drip/sprinkler systems to replace flood irrigation.
- Drought-Resistant Crops: Prioritize climate-resilient seed varieties.
- Smart Farming Tools: Deploy AI and IoT for real-time soil and water monitoring.
- Wastewater Recycling: Use treated water for irrigation to reduce freshwater demand.
“Every drop counts,” she emphasized, praising schemes like PMKSY’s ‘per drop more crop’ but urging faster adoption.
Reviving Ancient Wisdom for Modern Conservation
Murmu advocated blending traditional practices—like Rajasthan’s johads (rainwater tanks) and Karnataka’s kattas (check dams)—with modern tech. She highlighted Rajasthan’s Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan, a community-led water harvesting success story.
Policy and Industry: Accountability Now
While applauding initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission, Murmu demanded stricter enforcement of water laws and corporate responsibility: “Industries must adopt water-efficient tech—reward sustainability, penalize waste.”
A National Call to Action
Murmu’s closing appeal was unambiguous: “Water conservation needs farmers, businesses, and citizens to unite. This isn’t just policy—it’s survival.”
Next Steps: A national water innovation fund and startup partnerships for smart irrigation are in the pipeline.
