Water Crisis in India: Concept of Nexus-Regional Solution

In India, which ranks first in the world in terms of population size in 2023, rapid technological and economic development is combined with an increased scarcity of natural resources, which is especially acute in the lack of water resources. Increase of water consumption (90% of water is consumed by irrigation and agriculture), growing competition for water resources from energy, industry, urbanization, etc. require a transition from sectoral water use management to management based on the concept of nexus (latin)–linkage between sectors. The central is Water–Energy–Food nexus which has been studied since the early 2010s. In developing the new National Water Policy of India, attention is focused on the development of the Water–Energy–Food production nexus. The article is based on a review of scientific publications, a critical analysis of forecasts and scenarios, and the use of statistical databases. The most acute problems of water availability and rationalization of its use are discussed at the state level and at the level of large river basins (project “Pure Ganges”). Technological and managerial decisions made in India aimed at rationalizing water use based on an unsophisticated approach are considered. A new driving force is the accelerated development of renewable energy sources. The problems of the Water–Energy–Food production nexus can be successfully solved only in the context of integral regional development, which becomes more complicated under the climate change.

1. Abdullaev I., Rakhmatullaev S. Setting up the agenda for water reforms in Central Asia: does the nexus approach help? Environ. Earth Sci., 2016, vol. 75 (10), 870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5409-8

2. Alekseeva N.N. The problem of virtual water in India in the context of inter-basin transfers of river flow. In Mir geoekologii. Geoekologicheskie problemy i puti ikh resheniya [The World of Geoecology. Geoecological Problems and Ways of Their Solution]. Moscow: GEOS Publ., 2017, pp. 153–162. (In Russ.).

3. Al-Saidi M., Elagib N.A. Towards understanding the integrative approach of the water, energy and food nexus. Sci. Total Environ., 2017, vol. 574 (1), pp. 1131–1139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.046

4. Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region. A Report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Government of India; Springer Open, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4327-2

5. Benson D., Gain A.K., Rouillard J.J. Water governance in a comparative perspective: from IWRM to a ‘Nexus’ approach? Water Altern., 2015, no. 8, pp. 756–773.

6. Biggs E.M., Bruce E., Boruff B., Duncan J.M.A., Horsley J., Pauli N., McNeill K., Neef A., Van Ogtrop F., Curnow J., Haworth B., Duce S., Imanari Y. Sustainable development and the water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on livelihoods. Environ. Sci. Policy, 2015, no. 54, pp. 389–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2015.08.002

7. Cai X., Wallington K., Shafiee-Jood M., Marston L. Understanding and managing the food-energy-water nexus – opportunities for water resources research. Adv. Water Resour., 2018, no. 111, pp. 259–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.11.014

8. Chaturvedi V., Nagar P., Rudresh K., Kangkanika S., Hejazi N.M. Cooperation or rivalry? Impact of alternative development pathways on India’s long-term electricity generation and associated water demands. Energy, 2020, vol. 192, no. 116708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116708

9. Dagar A. Present and Future Requirement of Water for Agricultural Crops and Livestock. In Climate Resilient Livestock and Production System. Karnal: National Dairy Research Institute, 2021, pp. 193–206.

10. Economic Survey of India 2019–2020. Ministry of Finance. Delhi: Educreation Publ., 2020, vol. 1. 618 p.

11. Faster, More Inclusive and Sustainable Growth. In Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–2017). Vol. 1, New Delhi: Planning Commission, Govt. of India, vol. 54, December 2015, pp. 389–397.

12. Gunatilakea H., Roland-Holst D., Sugiyartoa G. Energy security for India: Biofuels, energy efficiency and food productivity. Energy Policy, 2014, vol. 65, pp. 761–767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.050

13. Han X., Hua E., Engel B.A., Guan J., Yin J., Wua N., Sun S., Wan Y. Understanding implications of climate change and socio-economic development for the water-energy-food nexus: A meta-regression analysis. Agric. Water Manag., 2022, vol. 269(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107693

14. Katekar V.P., Deshmukh S.S., Vasan A. Energy, drinking water and health nexus in India and its effects on environment and economy. J. of Water Clim. Chang., 2021, vol. 12 (4), pp. 997–1022.

15. Kholod N., Evans M., Khan Z., Hejazi M., Chaturvedi V. Water-energy-food nexus in India: A critical review. Energy Clim. Chang., December 2021, vol. 2.

16. Liu J., Mao, G., Hoekstra, A. Y., Wang, H., Wang, J., Zheng, C., van Vliet M.T.H., Wu M., Ruddell B., Yan J. Managing the energy-water-food nexus for sustainable development. Appl. Energy, 2018, vol. 210, pp. 377–381. https://doi.org/j.apenergy.2017.10.064

17. Malyarov O.V. Nezavisimaya Indiya. Evolyutsiya sotsial’noekonomicheskoi modeli i razvitie ekonomiki [Independent India. Evolution of Socioeconomic Model and Development of Economy]. Moscow: Vost. Lit-ra Publ., 2010. 775 p.

18. Muller M. The ‘Nexus’ As a Step Back towards a More Coherent Water Resource Management Paradigm. Water Altern., 2015, vol. 8 (1), pp. 675–694.

19. Opoku E.K., Adjei K.A., Gyamfi C., Vuu C., Appiah-Adjei E.K., Odai S.N., Siabi E.K. Quantifying and analysing water trade-offs in the water-energy-food nexus: The case of Ghana. Water-Energy Nexus, 2022, vol. 5, pp. 8–20.

20. Pandit C., Biswas A.K. India’s National Water Policy: ‘feel good’ document, nothing more. Int. J. Water Resour. Dev., March 2019, vol. 35 (6), pp. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2019.1576509

21. Powell L., Sati А., Tomar V. K. Biofuels in India: Do the benefits justify the costs? Terra Nova, Jan. 28, 2022.

22. Rasul G., Sharma B. The nexus approach to water–energy–food security: an option for adaptation to climate change. Clim. Policy, 2015, vol. 16 (6), pp. 682–702. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2015.1029865

23. Report of the working group on Water Resources for XI FiveYear Plan (2007–2012). New Delhi: Government of India, 2006.

24. Sdasyuk G.V. Novaya Indiya. Geografiya razvitiya: dostizheniya, problemy, perspektivy [New India. Geography of Development: Achievements, Problems, Prospects]. Moscow: Kanon + ROOI “Reabilitaciya,” 2021. 520 p.

25. Shah T., Bhatt S., Shah R.K., Talati J. Groundwater governance through electricity supply management: Assessing an innovative intervention in Gujarat, western India. Agric. Water Manag., 2008, vol. 95 (11), pp. 1233– 1242.

26. Simpson G.B., Jewitt G.P. W. The Development of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus as a Framework for Achieving Resource Security: A Review. Front. Environ. Sci., 2019, vol. 7 (8), pp. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00008

27. The Water-Energy-Food Nexus. A new approach in support of food security and sustainable agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2014.

28. UN World Water Development Report 2014: Water and Energy. Paris, 2014, vol. 1.

29. Wichelns D. The water-energy-food nexus: Is the increasing attention warranted, from either a research or policy perspective? Environ. Sci. Policy, 2017, vol. 69, pp. 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.018