IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE WATER RESOURCES OF INDIA: CHALLENGES IN ADAPTATION

Shadananan Nair, Nansen Environmental Research Centre, India

Abstract

Maintaining water security in a changing climate and fast rising population is a major challenge in India. India is one among the countries highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Drylands are potentially threatened by desertification. National economy and life of the majority has been traditionally linked to agriculture, the largest consumer of water. Agriculture in a vast area is still rain-dependent. Abnormalities in rainfall are reflected in agricultural production. Changes in the onset of monsoon and in the seasonality and intensity of rainfall adversely affect production. Impacts of climate change on water resources affect hydel power generation and industrial production. Present economic growth is likely to be haltered.  High seasonality in certain parts reduces groundwater recharge and summer water availability. Irrigation in the dry zones largely depends on groundwater. Floods and droughts destroy agriculture in vast areas every year.  Changes in the intensity, frequency and tracks of storms cause widespread damage to coastal agriculture, in addition to salinising coastal aquifers. In the Western Ghats Mountain area, high seasonality and intensity of rainfall results in erosion and sedimentation, reducing reservoir capacity and summer flow in rivers. Retreat of Himalayan glaciers is likely to have large impact on agriculture in almost all parts of north India. Slight increase in rainfall predicted in some parts may not be able to compensate for the loss in soil moisture. Water related health issues also worsen when climate changes. Vector-borne and water-borne diseases spread into new areas. Changing climate leads to socio-economic issues such as water disputes, migration, pricing of water and large expenses for the adaptation and mitigation. This paper assesses the impact of climate change on water resources in India and its reflections on the environmental and socio-economic conditions. Changes in water availability in an altered climate have been estimated using hydrological model and the existing policies and .adaptation strategies have been critically reviewed. Results show that water availability will be drastically reduced in most parts of the country. Several initiatives have been planned as part of adaptation in the water and agricultural sectors. Unfortunately, the policies and adaptation strategies are inefficient and their implementation mechanism is poor. India urgently needs to develop an appropriate strategy for water management and climate change adaptation. Guidelines for this have been provided. As the changes in climate are still uncertain, India should be prepared to face the worst condition.