Govt draws up list of local bodies facing water crisis
Hindustan TimesThe cities of Patna, Chandigarh, Delhi, Pune, Indore, Nashik, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Agra, Ghaziabad, and Hyderabad are among those that face a severe water crisis, according to a study by the ministry of housing and urban affairs. In all, according to the ministry, 255 districts, 756 urban local bodies, and 1,597 blocks across the country face a severe water crisis and shortage of drinking water from a rapid decline in ground water levels due to indiscriminate extraction, erratic monsoons, and unauthorised development. The ministry of housing and urban affairs has prepared guidelines for urban water conversation which will be implemented in two phases in collaboration with the ministry of Jal Shakti’s flagship scheme, Jal Shakti Abhiyaan. The ministry has asked ULBs to engage with Resident Welfare Associations, schools, businesses, Civil Society Organizations, Nehru Yuva Kendras, NSS volunteers, NCC cadets and others to organize a door- to-door outreach, community events and workshops for dissemination and building awareness for all four enlisted water conservation measures in urban areas. The ministry has also asked ULBs to enforce building by-laws as per the provisions of the model building by-laws 2016 to ensure that the rain water harvesting provisions are incorporated.