India's Water Pollution: Who's Responsible And What's Being Done?

Water pollution is a critical issue in India, with up to 80% of its water contaminated, causing harm to the health and livelihoods of its citizens. The country's rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste being discharged into water bodies, resulting in severe pollution. To combat this, various entities are involved in tackling water pollution in India. The Indian government, through initiatives like the National Water Quality Monitoring Network and the Suchitwa Sagaram (Clean Sea) project, is working to improve water quality and access to safe drinking water. The World Bank has also been supporting the government's efforts, investing in projects to rejuvenate rivers and improve groundwater management. Additionally, community-led programs like the Atal Bhujal Yojana are empowering individuals and communities to manage their water resources sustainably. Furthermore, local governments, such as in Kerala, are implementing innovative schemes to address water pollution, and fishermen are actively participating in environmental initiatives to protect their waters.

Who is involved in solving water pollution in India?

The World Bank and the Government of India

India is among the world's most water-stressed countries, with 18% of the global population but only 4% of the global water resources. The country's water resources are not evenly distributed, with half of its annual precipitation falling in just 15 rain-soaked days, making floods and droughts common.

The World Bank has been supporting the Government of India's efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga River since 2011. Two World Bank projects worth $1 billion are helping set up the institutions needed to manage the river and build the infrastructure to keep it clean. Sewage from cities is the biggest source of organic pollution in the Ganga, and by building and maintaining sewage treatment plants and a network of drains, sewage water from houses in several of these cities now gets treated before reaching the river.

The World Bank is also helping to support the government's national groundwater program, the Atal Bhujal Yojana, to improve groundwater management. This program is implemented in 8,220 gram panchayats across seven Indian states and is the world's largest community-led groundwater management program. The program helps villagers understand their water availability and usage patterns so they can budget their water use accordingly. In the state of Punjab, the World Bank helped the state government pilot an innovative scheme to conserve groundwater, and the "Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao" (Save Water, Earn Money) scheme incentivizes farmers to reduce groundwater usage.

The World Bank has also supported the government's efforts to bring clean drinking water to rural communities. A range of projects with total financing of $1.2 billion have benefited over 20 million people. For example, the Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project helped over 1.57 million people in the state by improving sustainable rural water supply and sanitation services across underserved areas.

The World Bank is engaged in different aspects of water resource management and the supply of drinking water and sanitation services across the country. Through the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the World Bank is helping the Government of India build institutional capacity for the management and clean-up of the Ganga and investing to reduce pollution. The $1-billion operation has financed investments in wastewater and effluent treatment, solid waste management, and riverfront development.

Local governments and communities

Implementing Conservation Initiatives

Local governments play a key role in initiating and supporting conservation initiatives. For example, the state government of Kerala has launched the "Suchitwa Sagaram" (Clean Sea) project, which aims to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. As part of this project, harbor authorities distribute nylon bags to fishermen, who collect plastic pollution from their nets instead of throwing it back into the sea. The collected plastic is then sold to construction companies, who use it to build roads. This initiative not only helps to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean but also provides economic opportunities for local communities.

Community-Led Groundwater Management

The Atal Bhujal Yojana is India's largest community-led groundwater management program, operating in 8,220 gram panchayats across seven Indian states. This program aims to improve rural livelihoods and build resilience in areas with high rates of groundwater depletion. By helping villagers understand their water availability and usage patterns, the program empowers them to budget their water use more effectively. This is particularly important in states like Punjab, where excessive tubewell irrigation is causing a drastic decline in the water table.

Incentivizing Farmers to Reduce Groundwater Usage

Local governments have also partnered with organizations like Water.org to implement initiatives such as the "Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao" (Save Water, Earn Money) scheme. This scheme provides cash incentives to farmers who reduce their electricity use for irrigation, resulting in significant water savings without compromising crop yields. Such initiatives recognize the crucial role of local communities in water conservation and encourage sustainable practices.

Providing Access to Safe Water and Sanitation

Local governments are responsible for ensuring that their citizens have access to safe water and sanitation facilities. This includes investing in infrastructure to provide piped water supply and modern sanitation systems, particularly in rural and impoverished communities. For example, the state of Maharashtra is working to provide lasting access to safe water and sanitation to its citizens, addressing the needs of millions who previously lacked these basic services.

Promoting Environmental Education and Awareness

Fishermen and the fishing industry

The fishing industry in India is a significant contributor to the country's economy, employing more than 145 million people. However, water pollution poses a severe threat to the industry, damaging aquatic ecosystems and reducing fish populations. Fishermen in India are witnessing a drastic decline in fish populations, forcing them to seek alternative livelihoods.

Water pollution in India is primarily caused by untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and unregulated small-scale industry. Industrial wastewater, containing heavy metals and toxic chemicals, is discharged directly into rivers, severely impacting aquatic life. This includes the Ganga, India's largest and most iconic river, which has suffered from the negative effects of rapid urbanization with over 100 towns and cities pouring sewage into it.

The impact of water pollution on the fishing industry is evident in the increasing incidents of mass fish deaths. As fish rely on healthy bacteria to survive, the contaminated water disrupts their ecosystems. This has led to a crisis in the fishing industry, with fishermen struggling to maintain their livelihoods.

In response to this crisis, fishermen in the state of Kerala have actively participated in environmental initiatives to minimize water pollution and protect their waters. The Suchitwa Sagaram (Clean Sea) project, implemented by the local government, involves distributing nylon bags to fishermen, enabling them to collect plastic pollution from their nets instead of returning it to the sea. The collected plastic is then sold to construction companies, who use it to build roads. This initiative not only helps protect the environment but also provides additional income for fishermen and creates jobs for local women in Kerala.

Additionally, the World Bank has been supporting the Government of India's efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga River since 2011. With two projects worth $1 billion, they are assisting in setting up the necessary institutions and infrastructure to manage and clean the river. These projects aim to address the issue of sewage discharge, which is the predominant cause of water pollution in India's rivers.

Water.org and microfinance institutions

Water pollution is a significant environmental issue in India, with untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and unregulated small-scale industry being the main sources. This has led to a situation where up to 80% of India's water is contaminated, causing severe consequences for both the environment and public health.

Water.org is a US-based NGO that has been supporting microfinance institutions and NGOs in India since 2003 through its WaterCredit initiative. WaterCredit is a microfinance solution that provides small, affordable loans to those in need of safe water and sanitation. Water.org brings resources and consulting expertise to financial institutions, helping them add water and sanitation loans to their portfolios. They work with local financial institutions and other partners who understand the needs of their communities and are invested in their success. Water.org provides technical assistance, connections, and small grants to help them provide small loans for water and sanitation solutions.

Water.org has helped mobilise $6.6 billion in capital to support small loans, with a 98% global repayment rate. As of 2011, they had helped 13 partner organisations make 51,000 credits, with 90% of borrowers being women. Water.org also works with commercial banks in Africa, such as PostBank Uganda, Family Bank in Kenya, and Equity Bank in Tanzania, to support lending for water and sanitation.

In addition to its work with microfinance institutions, Water.org has introduced the idea of lending for water and sanitation to organisations like SIDUR in India. Through these partnerships, Water.org supports lending for water and sanitation at multiple levels, including households, small and medium enterprises, and water utilities.

Young people and environmental initiatives

Young people in India are actively involved in tackling water pollution and advocating for climate action. The Maha Youth for Climate Action (MYCA) platform, co-created by UNICEF, the Government of India, and the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) in 2022, caters to young individuals aged 15 to 29, particularly from rural areas. MYCA provides these young people with the resources and training to develop green skills, gain access to better work opportunities in the environmental sector, and advocate for climate action. The platform has inspired India's participation in conferences such as the Conference of Youth (COY17) and the creation of a youth engagement and stewardship initiative spanning 700,000 young people committed to water conservation.

MYCA's advocacy has also influenced education by integrating climate action and environmental lesson plans into the curriculums of 65,000 primary schools in Maharashtra. Additionally, UNICEF has partnered with the State Government to launch a self-paced online course targeting 3 million young people over the next two years. This course covers climate change, water conservation, and other climate-related topics.

UNICEF's Youth Engagement for Climate Change programme has empowered young people to work with government authorities and advocate for their voices to be heard at the highest levels. This programme has helped young climate advocates protect the environment and resources for future generations.

In addition to these initiatives, young fishermen in Kerala have answered the local government's call to minimise water pollution. As Kerala's fishing industry brings in approximately $14 million in revenue, the government passed the Suchitwa Sagaram (Clean Sea) project, providing nylon bags to fishermen to collect plastic pollution from their nets instead of returning it to the sea. The collected plastic is then sold to construction companies for use in road construction, providing jobs for local women in Kerala.

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