Kerala No Water Crisis
(Source: Page 1, The Hindu)
| Topic: GS Paper 2: Governance; GS Paper 3: Disaster Management, Environment |
| Context |
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Current Situation
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Dams are running dry; 24 out of 37 reservoirs have below 25% storage.
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Water tankers deployed; public urged to ration water.
Underlying Causes
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Delay in pre-monsoon showers.
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Depletion of river systems (Pamba, Periyar) and unregulated borewell extraction.
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Inadequate investment in water conservation and watershed management.
Policy and Administrative Response
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The state declared emergency measures, including rationing.
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Crisis calls for robust urban water management policies and inter-departmental coordination.
Way Forward
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Scale up rainwater harvesting, restore wetlands, and promote micro-irrigation.
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Long-term need for a comprehensive groundwater management policy.
| Practice Question: “Discuss the challenges faced by Indian states like Kerala in managing water resources sustainably. Suggest measures for long-term water security in the context of climate change. (250 words)” (GS2, 250 words, 15 marks) |
