Water Scarcity, Public Investment and Sustainability in Delhi Metropolitan Region: Identification, Challenges and Future Prospects

Abstract

Water is the most precious element on the earth. The tremendous increase in population has put intense pressure on all the available resources like land, forest and water etc. Among them, groundwater resources have been exploited the most. This divine component for all the living beings is facing the scenario of scarcity on the planet Earth. Indiscriminate and irrational use of water, its contamination, non-conservation of rainfall and the increasing pressure in the population are the main attributable reasons to be focused on. The spatio-temporal variations in the above-mentioned factors and many others over the last few decades show an increase in the trend of problems of water scarcity. The outcomes and results are being experienced in the everyday lives of the people in the Delhi Metropolitan Area. The present study is concerned with the increased level of water scarcity and low level of public investment in this prime sector. The study is based on both primary and secondary data sources collected from field survey. The result shows spatio-temporal variations as well as intra-regional variations in public investment with varying depths of groundwater in the study areas. The paper also suggests ways like rainwater harvesting, inculcating the ideal way of water flow, increase in vegetative cover, incentives for new irrigation techniques, modification in tile structure for footpath and adoption of green construction technologies etc. to ensure sustainability of the region.