Over the last two censuses, India's urban population increased to more than 31%, with a 2.7% annual growth rate. According to estimates, while urban regions today house one-third of the country's population, by 2050, this figure might rise to 814 million, or 50% of the anticipated total population of 1.6 billion. India has become a water-stressed country over time, with per capita water supplies continuously declining since 1951. Much of the recent literature on urban water management in India implies that the country's fast-growing urban population will place enormous strain on its water supplies. At the same time as rural India accounts for the majority of national water consumption, it also accounts for the majority of national water waste. 

In today's episode, we are joined by Jintedra Bisht to discuss his paper Urban Water Supply in India: Policy Paradigms and Institutional Priorities. Jitendra discusses with Riya from SPRF team urban water management that uses a Malthusian lens, population is the primary driver of increasing demand and competition for available water resources throughout urban regions. As a result, a broad shift toward demand management can be seen in policy frameworks. The increased reliance on groundwater, particularly through individual borewells, is a key consequence of inefficient urban water supply infrastructure. However, because of increased paved surfaces and heavy deforestation, metropolitan areas have a substantial surface runoff. This reduces groundwater recharge and causes floods during rainstorms. 

You can read Jitendra's paper here - 'Urban Water Supply in India: Policy Paradigms and Institutional Priorities'

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Jitendra Bisht works in policy research, climate crisis, and sustainability studies, and has previously worked as a Senior Analyst at SPRF India.