Scarcity of water

• Scarcity of water is defined as a situation where there is insufficient water to satisfy normal requirements.
• Though water is a renewable resource, we humans are using it at a faster rate than it is being replenished.

Scenario during drought

• There are various factors contributing to the depletion of water table.

1. Increasing population
2. Industrialization
3. Agricultural activities
4. Deforestation

Increasing population:

• Growing population has resulted in a growing demand for houses, offices, shops, roads etc.
• As a result, open areas like parks and playgrounds are used for construction.
• This reduces the seepage of water into the ground.
• Moreover, construction work requires more water for which underground water is used.
• Since the rate of consumption of underground water is more than the seepage, there is depletion of water table.

Industrialization:

• Growing population has also resulted in an increase in the number of industries.
• Water is used in almost every stage of production of things that we use.
• This has put a heavy load especially on the freshwater ecosystem.

Agricultural activities:

• India is an agricultural country and farmers have to depend on rains for irrigating their fields.
• However, erratic monsoons result in excess use of groundwater thereby decreasing the underground water.

Deforestation:

• Trees have the ability to hold water.
• With deforestation, the number of plants decrease, hence the water keeps flowing towards the sea and the groundwater is not recharged.