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Urban centers like Delhi and Bangalore are also experiencing acute shortages. In Delhi, nearly 90% of the population faces water insecurity, with supplies often limited to irregular borewell withdrawals or government tankers. Despite torrential rains during the monsoon, the increase in runoff and climate change-related alterations reduce groundwater recharge, exacerbating the crisis.
Agriculture: A Major Culprit and Victim
Agriculture consumes the lion's share of India's water—particularly water-intensive crops like rice and wheat. The Green Revolution, which aimed to ensure food security, inadvertently contributed to the problem by promoting the cultivation of these thirsty crops in already arid regions like Punjab and Haryana.