An In–depth Analysis of Water Scarcity

The paper, “Mapping Water Scarcity across Major States of India,” by Ashish Chopra and Parthasarathy Ramachandran (EPW, 12 August 2023), dives into the numerous facets of water shortage in India, stressing its influence on all parts of society and emphasising the compelling need for an all–encompassing strategy to solve this significant problem.

The problem of water shortage in India is evaluated in this paper using a thorough framework that takes into account 20 factors that capture the multiple aspects of scarcity. The index that results from this evaluation is referred to as the water poverty index. This method allows for a comprehensive knowledge of the difficulties that 11 main states are experiencing as a result of a lack of available water. The findings are unambiguous and point to an unsettling scenario in which these states are dealing with varied degrees of moderate to severe water shortages. A more in–depth investigation highlights the importance of socio–economic and environmental elements as fundamental determinants of the path that the water industry will take in the future.