This term paper analyzed the attitude of India on water resources and needs in relation to industrial countries including the current state of water resources in the world. The comparative point of views between Austrians and Indians, based on the conducted survey of February 2012, should be analyzed. Relationships and impacts of the water scarcity should be drawn. Necessary steps for preventing a water crisis in the next thirty years in India will be considered and presented.
In the chapters, the basics and a state of the art for the resource water will be reflected. A little view in the future will help to build conclusions for a possible way to avoid water stress in India. The author asked many students in Austria and India to the topic of water resources and sustainability.
Which are the top three resources that will impact the business development of India? The answers were water, energy and agricultural land and by the Austrians energy, steel and at the last water.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Problem Description
1.2 Purpose
2 Conceptual Definition and Demarcation
2.1 The Global and Indian Water Situation
2.2 UN Water Development Report
2.3 Drivers of the Water Usage
2.3.1 The Agricultural Water Consumption of India
2.3.2 Industrialization and the Water Consumption of India
2.3.3 Poverty, Education, Culture and Values
2.4 India’s Water Footprint
2.5 Public and Private Partnerships for Water
2.6 Water Policy of India
2.7 The Water Wars of India
3 The Comparison of Austrian and Indian’s
4 Conclusion
4.1 Adjusting the Policies
4.2 Reengineering of the Irrigation Sector
4.3 Adapting Best Practices in Farming
4.4 Three Pillars of Sustainable Developing
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to analyze the critical water situation in India, examining the drivers of water scarcity and comparing public perceptions in Austria and India. It seeks to identify necessary interventions and policy adjustments to prevent a severe water crisis in India over the next thirty years.
- Analysis of global and Indian freshwater depletion
- Evaluation of agricultural and industrial water consumption drivers
- Investigation of socio-economic factors including poverty and cultural values
- Comparative survey on water awareness in Austria and India
- Proposed strategies for sustainable water management
Excerpt from the Book
2.3.3 Poverty, Education, Culture and Values
Poverty leaves people with few choices because they must do what is necessary for their survival, whatever the environmental consequences. Slash-and-burn agricultural practices, overexploitation of inland fisheries and the proliferation on informal settlements around urban areas. A fact is that poor people pay the highest prices for water. In rural areas people spend hours each day fetching water (cf UNESCO 2009, p. 37). India hasn’t an educated populace for a better understanding the needs for sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems and the important environmental goods and services they provide. Concerning the cultural role is that religious beliefs can also sometimes accelerate the degradation of these resources. One of the examples is the Hindu practice of cremating their deceased family members in funeral pyres and placing their ashes into the Ganges River, which is considered holy. However, incomplete cremation results in incompletely burned human, causing degraded water quality and increasing the potential for the transmission of waterborne diseases. So the custom is deeply rooted in religious beliefs, making it difficult to address with a strict rational approach (cf UNESCO 2009, p. 39). Another view, which is a positive, is the legend of the Bhagiratha who brought water – the river Ganga – to earth in a prayerful spirit. In the Indians tradition, rivers have been regarded as deities to be worshipped and not as horses to be harnessed and ridden. This tradition has hardly prevented the Indians from polluting their rivers (cf Gupta 2008, S. 58). But in an other example due religious beliefs, the remains from rituals and funeral pyres are thrown into the waters, a practice which is prevalent in almost all rivers and lakes across the country (cf Pangare et al. 2006, p. 211)
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the global water crisis and specific challenges faced by India, highlighting the necessity of sustainable development.
2 Conceptual Definition and Demarcation: Provides an overview of the global water situation and identifies the primary drivers of water usage in India, including agriculture, industrialization, and socio-cultural factors.
3 The Comparison of Austrian and Indian’s: Presents the findings of a comparative survey regarding water resources and sustainability awareness among students in Austria and India.
4 Conclusion: Outlines proposed policy reforms, irrigation improvements, and agricultural best practices essential for long-term water security in India.
Keywords
Water Crisis, India, Sustainability, Water Footprint, Irrigation, Groundwater, Agriculture, Industrialization, Water Policy, Water Scarcity, Environmental Protection, Socio-economic Factors, Water Management, Resource Depletion, Climate Change
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the growing water crisis in India and proposes strategies for sustainable resource management over the next three decades.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central themes include the drivers of water consumption, the impact of industrial growth, agricultural irrigation challenges, and the influence of cultural and educational factors on water usage.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to draw links between water scarcity impacts and human activities, while determining necessary steps to prevent a future water catastrophe in India.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The research relies on literature analysis of reports from organizations like the World Bank and UNESCO, combined with an empirical survey conducted among students in Austria and India.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the conceptual background, sectoral analysis of water consumption (agricultural vs. industrial), the role of culture, and a comparative study of environmental awareness.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Water Scarcity, India, Sustainability, Groundwater Depletion, and Water Policy.
How does cultural belief specifically impact water quality in India?
The paper notes that certain religious practices, such as the immersion of remains in the Ganges, can lead to degraded water quality and increased transmission of waterborne diseases.
What role do public-private partnerships play in water management?
The author discusses how performance-based contracts can help reduce leakages and improve service efficiency, while noting the high social challenge of providing water to slum populations.
- Quote paper
- Kürsad Kesici (Author), 2012, A plan to prevent a water crisis in India in the future, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/381284
