30 Indian cities likely to face acute water risks by 2050: WWF

30 Indian cities likely to face acute water risks by 2050: WWF

By Administrator_ India

Capital Sands

From taps running dry to flooding, cities could face dramatically increased “water risks” unless urgent action is taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change, shows a WWF survey released on Monday.

According to the scenarios in the WWF Water Risk Filter, 100 cities that are expected to suffer the biggest rise in water risk by 2050 are home to 350 million people, and nationally and globally important economies. Nearly 50 cities in China, and 30 in India, including Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Amritsar, Pune, Srinagar, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kozhikode and Vishakhapatnam, are such high-risk regions.

Cities across India have been facing acute shortage of water due to rapid urbanization, climate change and lack of appropriate infrastructure, which continues to put stress on the existing infrastructure. Over the last few years, cities from Chennai to Shimla, have faced an acute crisis of water supply.

Problems such as lack of rainwater harvesting, which is key for water conservation, have been highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio address. He said only 8% of rainwater is saved in India.

“The future of India’s environment lies in its cities. As India rapidly urbanizes, cities will be at the forefront both for India’s growth and for sustainability. For cities to break away from the current vicious loop of flooding and water scarcity, nature-based solutions like restoration of urban watersheds and wetlands could offer solutions. This is our chance to re-evolve and re-imagine what the future of the cities could be,” said Sejal Worah, programme director, WWF India.

The study said multi-stakeholder engagements and ownership involving local communities will be key to creating and conserving sustainable water infrastructure and rejuvenating urban freshwater systems. It added that urban planning and wetland conservation needs to be integrated to ensure zero loss of freshwater systems in urban areas.

The survey added that while improving urban water infrastructure and cutting water consumption will help reduce water risks, nature-based solutions including restoring degraded watersheds, reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, and restoring or creating urban wetlands are critical.

Related Posts
Delhi Police Issues Traffic Advisory Ahead of India International Trade Fair
delhi police

Entry to the fair will be restricted to business visitors from November 14 to 18. It will be opened for Read more

Developing Countries Need $1 Trillion a Year in Climate Finance:
Developing countries

Developing countries need to work with investors, rich countries and development banks to secure $1 trillion a year in external Read more

Next month, India will host a gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers
India and ASEAN

As India prepares to host a conference of the 10-nation grouping's foreign ministers next month, diplomatic sources said that the Read more

In the ‘Pragati’ meeting, PM Modi reviews eight projects worth Rs 59,900 crore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a 'Pragati' meeting on Wednesday, where he assessed eight projects totaling over Rs 59,900 crore Read more

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x