By Nishtha Paliwal
India is in the midst of a severe water crisis, driven by its reliance on a short and highly unpredictable monsoon, compounded by depleting water levels, extreme weather events, and mismanagement of resources. As the world’s largest user of groundwater, India accounts for around 25% of global groundwater extraction. According to the Central Ground Water Board, 14% of the country’s 7,089 groundwater assessment units are classified as over-exploited, while another 4% are deemed critical. This unsustainable use of water has exacerbated an already fragile system.
With these challenges escalating, the need for collaborative, innovative solutions have become more urgent than ever. India Water Week (IWW) 2024 provided a vital platform to address these pressing concerns. It brought together a wide spectrum of experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the role of partnerships, technology and community engagement in crafting a sustainable future for India’s water resources. The event’s key takeaways underscored the importance of collective action, while IWMI’s contributions highlighted the power of research-driven solutions to tackle these complex issues head-on.
Collaboration and cooperation for water security
Water security is a shared challenge that demands collaborative solutions, as highlighted during India Water Week 2024. One of the critical discussions led by Rachael McDonnell, IWMI Deputy Director General, focused on addressing “wicked water problems” such as hunger, poverty, climate change and ecosystem degradation, with a particular focus on South Asia and Africa.
McDonnell emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships across the water–food–energy nexus, which are crucial to enhancing water productivity and resilience in vulnerable regions. She highlighted IWMI’s collaborative efforts with government bodies, international organizations, and communities to drive strategic action aimed at tackling these pressing water security issues.
This session reaffirmed IWMI’s commitment to leveraging its partnerships to deliver impactful solutions in an era of escalating climate risks. By working across sectors and borders, IWMI continues to be at the forefront of driving meaningful collaboration to address the interconnected challenges of water scarcity and sustainable development.
Innovation in water management
Technological innovation and startup engagement emerged as key factors in addressing future water challenges. IWMI’s suite of decision-support tools, including the Water Productivity Atlas, exemplifies how data-driven solutions can improve water use efficiency and agricultural productivity.
Alok Sikka, IWMI Country Representative for India and Bangladesh, chaired a session on Open, Integrated, and Shared Water Data during India Water Week. He, along with Upali Amarasinghe presented IWMI’s Water Productivity Atlas, a pioneering tool that offers insights into water productivity across more than 600 districts in India, covering over 30 crops. This tool allows policymakers to make informed decisions by analyzing spatial and temporal variations in water use. For instance, the Atlas can model crop diversification scenarios to reduce groundwater footprints by shifting from water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane to alternatives such as sunflowers or vegetables, significantly boosting economic water productivity. These innovations have already garnered attention from key officials, including representatives from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, who recognize its potential in water resource management.
In another session on Demand Management and Water Use Efficiency, Sikka emphasized the need to better manage agricultural water demand, which consumes over 80% of India’s freshwater. He highlighted IWMI’s research on efficient irrigation practices, including the use of pressurized pipe irrigation networks and other demand management interventions, which have proven to enhance irrigation efficiency and reduce groundwater extraction.
Community participation in water conservation
A critical takeaway from India Water Week was the indispensable role of local communities in water conservation efforts. Sustainable water governance is achievable only when communities are actively engaged in both the decision-making process and the implementation of solutions. IWMI has recognized the importance of this and has integrated community involvement at every level, particularly in regions facing acute water scarcity such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
IWMI is actively working to scale up community mobilization for groundwater management, complementing existing efforts under the scheme Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal). Recognizing the practical challenges of implementing such a scheme, IWMI’s focus is on identifying key village community members and existing Community Resource Persons (CRPs) to participate in specialized training programs. The goal is to foster strong leadership and motivate these individuals to drive community mobilization efforts. This initiative will create a dedicated cadre of “Pani Mitras,” who will lead sustainable community engagement for participatory groundwater management.
To support this, IWMI has developed training modules on leadership and capacity building in partnership with organizations such as the Centre for MicroFinance and PRADAN, the state project management units. These modules were recently tested through demonstration trainings in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Based on the outcomes of these demonstrations, a refined leadership training module is being finalized, accompanied by a policy note that captures key lessons learned. The learnings from this model could serve as a blueprint for fostering sustainable groundwater management practices at a national and global level.
IWMI’s work on solar-powered irrigation systems has further strengthened community participation. By promoting solar irrigation in states such as Bihar and Gujarat, IWMI has enabled farmers to reduce their dependence on traditional, energy-intensive groundwater extraction methods. Solar irrigation not only provides a reliable and cost-effective irrigation solution but also fosters community ownership through participatory approaches that help farmers transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Through these grassroots initiatives, IWMI India continues to demonstrate that local knowledge and active community participation are vital to achieving long-term water security and resilience. Engaging communities not only in the adoption of new technologies but also in the stewardship of water resources is central to IWMI’s approach to addressing India’s water challenges.
Policy recommendations for sustainable water governance
IWW produced several forward-looking policy recommendations aimed at strengthening water governance, enhancing infrastructure development and addressing groundwater over-extraction. IWMI’s leadership on integrated surface and groundwater management remains vital to these efforts. During a dedicated session, IWMI experts emphasized the importance of Managed Aquifer Recharge and conjunctive water management as critical strategies for reducing groundwater overuse and building climate resilience.
IWMI’s ongoing policy engagements are geared towards translating these insights into practical solutions that support national and regional water strategies.
Looking ahead: Building on the momentum
IWW reinforced the need for sustained partnerships, innovation and community-driven approaches to solve global water challenges. IWMI’s leadership in water research and management, demonstrated through its cutting-edge tools and strong partnerships, positions it as a key player in driving the change required for a water-secure future.
IWMI remains committed to leveraging the momentum from India Water Week to expand its collaborations, influence policy reforms and continue delivering on-the-ground solutions that meet India’s water security needs.